Homeless Sheffield man 'took his own life after years on the street'

A man who died in Broomhill last month was a rough sleeper who took his own life, the Star can reveal.
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Dale Boulding, aged 34, was originally from the Manor but had been living on the streets for around five years.

He was found by a friend on Tuesday, July 16 in the grounds of the old NatWest bank on Fulwood Road in Broomhill having hanged himself.

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Flowers near to the site where Dale Boulding was found.Flowers near to the site where Dale Boulding was found.
Flowers near to the site where Dale Boulding was found.
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Another friend, Stephen Williams from Firth Park, who also lives on the streets, said Dale had taken his own life after his methadone prescription was cut.

He said Dale had asked for help in killing himself a number of times but that he had always dismissed it as ‘a joke’.

He said: “The Fitzwilliam Centre cut his methadone prescription from 65mg to nothing. They are actually doing the same to me.

“I have been missing appointments but when you are homeless you never know where you are going to wake up. You are moved from pillar to post.

Stephen Williams, another rough sleeper who knew Dale Boulding.Stephen Williams, another rough sleeper who knew Dale Boulding.
Stephen Williams, another rough sleeper who knew Dale Boulding.
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“That much methadone costs about £100 to replace on heroin alone and he was using heroin, crack and spice and drinking as well.”

Shop workers in the area who were there at the time of the incident remembered another rough sleeper raising the alarm.

One woman who did not want to be named said the man came running down Fulwood Road shouting ‘he’s hanging bro’.

She also said there had been noticeably fewer beggars in the area since it happened as police officers seemed to be moving them on quicker.

The old NatWest building in Broomhill.The old NatWest building in Broomhill.
The old NatWest building in Broomhill.
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Stephen said the person who found him - another rough sleeper called Alex - had been offered counselling to help him get over the shock of finding Dale’s body.

He also said Alex told him the body was stiff when he found him indicating Dale may have been there for some time.

Stephen said Dale was just another face among a group of 40 to 50 beggars and rough sleepers who frequent Broomhill and that homeless people sometimes head up to the area as it considered a bit quieter and safer than the city centre.

He said: “He was a nice guy. If his family want to know about what his last days were like they know where I am.”

Graffiti on the walls of the old NatWest building in Broomhill.Graffiti on the walls of the old NatWest building in Broomhill.
Graffiti on the walls of the old NatWest building in Broomhill.
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Police said the death was being treated as non-suspicious and a file had been passed to the coroners’ office.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned last month.

If you need to speak to someone, Samaritans are available 24/7 by calling 116 123 or by emailing [email protected].