First Dates Hotel star's ex killed their two-year-old daughter and then killed ... trends now
A father killed his two-year-old daughter and then himself by veering into a lorry's path after leaving a note for his First Dates Hotel star ex-girlfriend, an inquest heard.
Ashley Henry, 35, said he had' nothing to live for' in the letter found after the murder-suicide on Father's Day last year when he had taken daughter Oria on a seaside weekend break in Skegness, Lincolnshire.
He is thought to have suffocated the girl before killing himself, having split from her mother Rachael Leader, 32.
He feared being replaced as Oria's 'father figure' to her mother's new boyfriend, according to the letter left on a laptop in his bedroom, an inquest was told at Lincolnshire Coroner's Court.
Ms Leader and Henry's mother Lisa Henry sobbed in court as a coroner today ruled Henry 'unlawfully killed' Oria before dying by suicide, deliberately driving into an incoming HGV lorry.
Ashley Henry has been found by a coroner to have 'unlawfully killed' daughter Oria (pictured)
Henry, right, had been co-parenting Oria with her mother, his ex Rachael Leader (left)
Police initially treated the fatal collision in Anwick, Leicestershire, on June 18 last year as a tragic accident, but later revealed they were treating it as a murder-suicide.
Henry had swerved and driven into the path of an oncoming HGV lorry causing it to jack knife while his rented Nissan Qashqai ended up on its roof in a ditch.
Oria suffered 'unsurvivable injuries' including a fractured skull and external injuries.
Home Office pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton said he thought but could not prove the child had been killed before the crash - possibly by suffocation with a pillow.
Jayne Wilkes, area coroner for Greater Lincolnshire, today said of Oria: 'It was probable she was not alive at the time of the collision but there was no physical evidence of a fatal assault.'
She described Oria as a 'beautiful, bright, bubbly little girl who brought sunshine into the life of everyone who knew her'.
He 'definitely feared losing access to Oria or in his words" 'another man being her father figure", she added.
'He left a detailed letter setting out his intentions to kill himself and Oria.'
The inquest was told Henry had not wanted a child but then 'doted' on his daughter after her arrival.
Miss Wilkes also called the killer a 'popular and talented' man with many friends and who was 'highly thought of' at his work place, but added: 'He was clearly suffering what he called a "dark torture" in his head.
'His letter found on his computer was that he was going to die with Oria. He intended to end both their lives.'
The Home Office pathologist had told the inquest Oria was 'probably' not alive at the time of the crash, in evidence the coroner called 'compelling'.
Miss Wilkes added: 'There was no guarantee that both would be killed - possibly one and the other could have been left with significant life changing injuries.
'It is possible, probable, that Ashley made sure Oria would not survive.'
Ashley Henry and his daughter Oria had spent the weekend at the seaside before their deaths
Ashley died from numerous severe traumatic injuries sustained in the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses told how his car was 'smashed to bits' and it would be 'a miracle if the driver escaped, with one saying: 'He wouldn't get out unless he was Superman.'
Sections of Henry's note were read out during the inquest at Grimsby Town Hall, with members of both families present.
Rachael was comforted by her mother Judy Leader and sister Millie while Ashley’s mother and two brothers held their heads in their hands, looking visibly distressed.
The suicide note was entitled 'Bye' and found in a Word document which was later handed to police investigating the crime.
The laptop was discovered in the bedroom of his grandmother's house house, where he was living following his split from Ms Leader.
He told of deciding eight weeks earlier, saying 'there was a sense of relief and calm knowing the end of life was near' and he was 'going to be with my daughter.”
Henry, a manager for a firm selling medicinal mushrooms, also described in his final letter how much 'fun' he and Oria had had at the seaside in Skegness, Lincolnshire, that last weekend after booking into the South View Caravan Park.
He wrote: 'We went to the beach, we ate ice cream and we ate fish and chips.
'That was my last day with her. Me and Oria are now at peace forever. We love you.'
He described attending a family weekend the previous weekend, saying: 'It was wonderful to be all at the wedding - the last time. It was enjoyable and I hope you have happy memories.'
Ms Leader, who had appeared on Channel 4 show First Dates Hotel in 2020, branded her ex boyfriend 'evil' and a 'psycho' in social media posts.
She has also documented in public online posts what she called her 'journey of grief' since her daughter's killing.
Last October she revealed for the first time how her ex had taken revenge when they split up and she would never understand his actions.
She said: 'I don't understand how one could take their own child's life out of spite. And have planned it,
