'Man on the moors' took rat poison, inquest hears

Mystery remains over why a man from London took rat poison on a bleak moor in northern England two days after flying back to the UK, an inquest concluded.

David Lytton prompted a massive police investigation and an international hunt for clues sparking interest across the world as his identity remained unknown for 13 months, Rochdale Coroner's Court was told.

But on Today an open verdict was recorded by Simon Nelson, senior coroner for Greater Manchester North, who said a series of "fundamental questions remain unanswered" over the death of Mr Lytton.

Originally from London, he flew 4,000 miles from his adopted home in Pakistan, booked into a hotel for five days in the capital then paid for a return train ticket to Manchester, went to a pub near Saddleworth Moor, asked the landlord the way to "the top of the mountain" and wandered off into the dark to take strychnine.

He was wearing a light mac, trousers, a shirt and slip-on shoes and had no connection to Saddleworth.

The 67-year-old was found fully clothed on a remote track near Indian's Head, the summit above Dovestone Reservoir, on December 12 2015.

Carrying #130 in cash but with no identification on him and despite a mass media appeal he was only identified in January, more than a year after his death.

Mr Lytton had been in a relationship for more than 30 years with a woman, the inquest heard, but did not even tell her he was moving to Pakistan in 2006 and simply left.

Another friend of his did not even know of her existence.

He had also not spoken to his only brother for more than 10 years before his death.

Though highly intelligent, he was also a complex man who "compartmentalised" his life and friendships, the inquest heard.