Body in park was that of missing man

Mr Ridgley, 46, had last been seen on January 18 and was reported missing by his wife Sue, also 46, to whom he had been married for 16 years.

The couple lived in Knebworth Road, less than a mile from where Mr Ridgley’s decomposed body was discovered by a dog walker. They had three children - Ben, 15, Max, 13 and Emily, 12.

Huge efforts were made to trace Mr Ridgley following his disappearance, and in February a motorist reported a possible sighting of him on the A22 near Hailsham. In March, a media blitz again highlighted family concerns for Mr Ridgley, who had been depressed by the death of a close friend.

He had got to know his friend during 17 years working in St Andrew’s Market, Hastings, and after he died, Mr Ridgley set up a second-hand shop, SJ Cash and Exchange, in Castle Street, Hastings.

But during a press briefing in March, Detective Inspector Ian Williams, of Bexhill CID, said that Mr Ridgley appeared not to have got over his friend’s loss, and had twice tried to take his own life just before he went missing.

An initial post mortem examination failed to establish the cause of Mr Ridgley’s death or to verify identification, and DNA and other tests have since been necessary to achieve this. On Tuesday, an inquest was opened and adjourned to a date to be fixed.

Meanwhile, Mr Ridgley’s family have arranged for his funeral to take place next Thursday, June 9 at 1pm. It will be held at St Augustine’s Church, Cooden Drive, followed by a private burial.

The funeral directors, to whom flowers or donations may be sent in Mr Ridgley’s memory, are Arthur C Towner Ltd, of 19/20 Station Road, Bexhill.

Mr Ridgley’s wife, Sue, said: “Steve was loved and adored by his family. We enjoyed many fabulous holidays together with our three children and have some wonderful memories that will be with us forever. He was also a well-known and popular local businessman.

“His untimely death has been a shock to all who knew and loved him, but at least now we are able to put his body to rest, to start our grieving process and to try to move on with our lives.”

Detective Inspector Ian Williams, who led the investigation into Mr Ridgley’s disappearance, said: “This is very tragic news and our sympathies go to Sue and family.

“We had put a huge amount of resources into our search for Steven, combing beaches and surrounding woodland, making local enquiries and appeals and having 100 vacant properties searched in the town.”

DI Williams added: “Local officers felt emotionally involved in this case because of Steven’s young family and it is very sad that it has ended this way.

“Following appeals we responded to a number of calls from the public. I would like to thank them and the media for their support in our efforts to find Steven. His death is not being treated as suspicious and a full inquest will be held in the future.”