An inquest has opened into the presumed death of a man who has been missing from his Swanage home for more than a year.

The body of Gerald Turner has never been found. However, details of Mr Turner’s disappearance were heard at Bournemouth coroner’s court.

The landscape gardener, who was 67, went missing in the early hours of Sunday, March 4 last year.

He suffered from Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), which causes a progressive decline in mental abilities.

Symptoms include visual hallucinations, changes in attention, slow movement and tremors.

During the opening of the inquest at Bournemouth town hall, it was heard that Mr Turner was born in Swanage.

He lived in Church Hill at the time of his death. The date and place of his death remain unknown, it was said.

Coroner’s officer Ken McEwan said: “Mr Turner had a medical history of dementia, Type 1 diabetes, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

“His wife was his carer and he was medicated for diabetes.

“Without this medication, he became extremely ill and was unlikely to survive for a long time.”

Mr Turner had previously spoken of wanting to end his life.

In December 2017, he was stopped from walking into the sea from Swanage beach, it was said.

“On March 4 2018, his wife noticed he had left the house unexpectedly,” Mr McEwan said. “Police were contacted and an extensive search was made, although he was not found. There are no suspicious circumstances.”

Mr Turner was unlikely to have survived without his diabetes medication, Mr McEwan said.

A full inquest into Mr Turner’s death was adjourned until December.

Mr Turner’s wife Jane Pierette Turner has since launched a carer’s group for those who support loved ones with LBD. The group is funded by performances through her band, The Doolallys.

She said: “Being a carer is so tiring, and there’s no break, although of course caring for that person is what you want to do.

“I just thought that if I could help someone in a similar situation, that’s what I wanted to do.”

Mrs Pierette Turner said the past year has been “heartbreaking”, adding: “It’s a nightmare that I haven’t been able to wake up from.”