Gemma Freeman, a 45-year-old mother from Darwen, took her own life after her estranged husband told her to kill herself, an inquest heard. She left letters stating her intention to die 'because of Alan'.
Relationship History
Ms Freeman met Alan Cooper at The Millstone pub in Darwen in 2010. They became engaged within a year while on holiday in Portugal and married at St Peter's Church in October 2012. The couple had three children and lived together in a newly built home on Maple Mews.
Toxic Relationship and Abuse Allegations
The inquest at Blackburn Town Hall, led by area coroner Kate Bisset, heard testimony from relatives describing the relationship as 'toxic'. The couple separated in November 2025. On 21 March 2026, they met to discuss divorce arrangements but failed to reach an agreement, after which Ms Freeman 'walked away'.
Three days later, Ms Freeman's mother, Sheila Brooks, received a call from her daughter's employer after she failed to log on for a shift. Mrs Brooks said this was 'unusual' and she 'just knew something was seriously wrong'. She discovered her daughter hanged at the residence, with Easter eggs for loved ones and letters expressing her intention to end her life 'because of Alan'. Mrs Brooks stated: 'It was a toxic relationship. He had been abusing her and I recognised it as psychological abuse.'
Evidence of Abuse
Ms Freeman's daughter, Lucy, testified that Mr Cooper instructed her mother to 'kill herself' on at least one occasion. Lucy said: 'I saw what he did to her, he regularly abused her and it broke her.' Ms Freeman's sister, Vicky, disclosed: 'He would turn off the WiFi and the gas when he went to work. In November 2025 she showed me pictures of bruising to her ear and head and said Alan had shoved her.'
In a message to her sister near the relationship's end, Ms Freeman wrote: 'He doesn't give a s*** about the damage he is doing as long as he gets to keep control.'
Police Investigation and Criminal Threshold
Police launched an investigation after Ms Freeman's death. Detective Inspector Mark Reid told the inquest that Mr Cooper was questioned under caution while detectives examined whether manslaughter charges were appropriate. DI Reid said: 'One element of the case was about Alan's conduct. There was a question of whether that was criminal conduct.'
Coroner Bisset noted the letters left by Ms Freeman: 'The notes that Gemma left, certainly in her mind, attributed the relationship to the cause of her death.' She added that for a charge to succeed, the death 'would have to be foreseeable to the person perpetrating that abuse'.
Investigators concluded the evidence 'did not cross the criminal threshold', according to DI Reid. Ms Freeman's relatives confirmed that ruling is currently under a 'right to review'.
Statement from Alan Cooper
Mr Cooper, who attended the inquest, said: 'Our relationship was, on the whole, good but it went from one extreme to another and there were bad times which were unbelievably bad. She was highly strung and I'm stubborn. I regret that stubbornness now.'
Coroner's Verdict
Recording a verdict of suicide, coroner Bisset told Ms Freeman's relatives: 'The best justice for Gemma is for you to live happy lives.' She added: 'She herself attributed the relationship and its breakdown to her death.'
