A FORMER bank robber who turned his life around killed himself – after a clairvoyant gave her "blessing" to his plan to commit suicide.

IT consultant Terence Richard Day, 60, shot himself after seeing Bristol clairvoyant Jane Stack, who works under the name Elizabeth English, an inquest heard.

The court was told Mr Day, from Bradley Stoke, was depressed because he had been out of work

for two years when he contacted Mrs Stack and paid for a psychic reading.

She told a hearing yesterday at Truro she was an entertainer "like a magician" and gave readings to make people happy.

She said when Mr Day revealed his plan she used her training as a former Samaritan to talk to him but did not tell anyone of his intention because of "confidentiality".

She said Mr Day told her: "I am going off to kill myself."

She added: "I was thinking that this is his free will. I had to show acceptance."

Mrs Stack, who operates out of Fishponds, said she tried to make Mr Day, who died in Cornwall, think positively. She said she asked for assurances he would not do it.

The court heard Mr Day had been a bank robber and spent time in prison before turning his life around 15 years ago. He trained as an IT consultant and had been doing well. His body was found on July 2 last year in a field at Gulval, Penzance. He had called police to say he was going to kill himself.

By the time police found Mr Day he was already dead. In a note for his son Duncan Bennett, Mr Day said he did not want to claim benefits or return to a life of crime.

During the inquest a heated exchange ensued between Mr Bennett and Mrs Stack. Referring to a CD recording of his father's psychic reading Mr Bennett said: "When he says he's going to kill himself you can be heard telling him 'You've had a very hard life I would understand why you would do that'."

Mrs Stack repeated that her training as a former Samaritan instructed her not to break the confidence of someone threatening suicide.

Mr Bennett said: "So basically when someone tells you they're going to kill themselves you just do nothing."

Mrs Stack replied: "I'm an entertainer."

DC Yvan Clarke told the hearing: "The CD initially changed the complexion of the investigation – if it was an assisted suicide."

The officer added inquiries found no evidence of any third party involvement.

In the recording of the reading, Mr Day is heard to tell her: "I've already planned it [my suicide]." Mrs Stack tells him: "Well you go with my blessing Terry."

After coroner Barrie van den Berg recorded a verdict of suicide, Mr Bennett urged people who are depressed not to visit clairvoyants.

He said: "My dad was vulnerable because he was depressed. I believe when people are in that state of mind and are thinking of killing themselves they are looking for justification – someone to say 'it's OK' when it's not."