"Vulnerable" former Strictly Come Dancing star Robin Windsor took his own life following a battle with depression exacerbated by loneliness and other factors, a jury agreed following an inquest into his death overseen by Assistant Coroner Dr Anton van Dellen. They returned their verdict on Thursday, February 12, and Dr van Dellen confirmed the outcome at a hearing at West London coroner's court. The tragic dancer was found dead, face down on his hotel bed, at the age of 44 in February 2024. His body was discovered by a receptionist after he failed to check out of his room. An initial post-mortem had ruled he most likely died from a drug and alcohol overdose.

It was recorded that the star specifically died from a combined ethanol and gamma-butyrolactone intoxication. The jury foreperson confirmed they had determined that Robin Jamie Windsor completed suicide by ingestion of ethanol and gamma-butyrolactone on 19th February, 2024," adding: "We agree that the probable causes are an accumulation of many attributes to depression.

"Robin Jamie Windsor suffered from childhood trauma. He was vulnerable to rejection, both emotionally and professionally. We also agree that loneliness, the lack of emotional maturity, the pressure of mounting debts, the lack of consistent mental health care and support, and recurring heartache are all contributing factors to Robin Jamie Windsor's mental health deterioration, which in turn led him to take his own life." It was then confirmed that the final verdict was that he had died by suicide.

Dr van Dellen concluded proceedings by thanking the jury for their service, telling them "jurors play an important public role". He also thanked "all the witnesses who attended court and gave evidence, some...at short notice, taking time away from their work commitments," and acknowledged some of the questions they answered would have been "very painful".

He also extended his "deepest condolences" to Robin's family, adding: "I hope the family can take some comfort from the joy that Robin brought to so many people and the positive effect that he had on so many people."

** Ensure our latest showbiz headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ****

During the course of the hearing it was revealed two letters had been found near his body by PC Emily Hampson. It heard the first was addressed to a friend and was disparaging about the treatment he had received from the long-running BBC Saturday night entertainment show.

"The way they treated me destroyed me...It started me on the road I'm still on. All I wanted from life was to be happy. I loved my job more than anyone else." He continued saying, "the heartache, the loneliness, the constant sadness", had all got "too much". "I just live permanently in a dark place. I just can't live like this anymore. It's just too painful," he wrote. The second note was addressed to his ex, actor Ollie Augustin, and in it Robin told him: "I need you to understand that this is not your fault!"

His former colleague and fellow pro dancer Kristina Rihanoff, 48, spoke at the inquest and burst into tears as she recalled how Robin "changed significantly" following his injury. She said the show was a "very lonely space with not much support". She told the hearing she was "extremely upset" after learning he had not been asked back for the 2014 series and said "the psychological impact was very severe" because he "couldn't do what he loved" due to his back pain.

Robin first joined Strictly in 2010. However, he suffered a devastating back injury in late 2013, which required surgery to remove a disc, forcing him to withdraw from the 2014 show. He was replaced by Trent Whiddon, but made an appearance in week nine on 23 November 2014. He also appeared in the 2015 Christmas special. During his time on the BBC One show, he was partnered with celebrities including Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden, actress Anita Dobson, actress Lisa Riley and model Patsy Kensit.