Devon’s former High Sheriff was found dead in his home with ‘a shotgun wound to the head’, court hears

A former High Sheriff of Devon has been found dead at home with a shotgun wound.

An inquest has been opened into the death of 64-year- old Richard Youngman at his home in East Village near Crediton, Devon.

The senior Devon coroner Philip Spinney said the married corporate financier was found by a friend with a gunshot wound to the head last month.

Mr Spinney told the Exeter inquest that police were called to his home in July 10th and found him dead with a gunshot wound to his head. 

Mr Youngman, who was High Sheriff between 2022 and 2023, stated at the time he was sworn in that he was a former corporate adviser and a Red Ruby Devon cattle breeder.

An inquest has been opened into the death of 64-year- old Richard Youngman at his home in East Village near Crediton, Devon

At the time of his appointment in 2022, Mr Youngman said: ‘I am honoured to be taking on this ancient role and looking forward to thanking and supporting Devon’s agencies of law and order, emergency services and associated voluntary bodies, all of whom do such important work in our communities, as they recover from a couple of tough years.’ 

A High Sheriff is a ceremonial position appointed by the monarch every year. 

The monarch appoints one High Sheriff for each county in England and Wales and it is an unpaid and non-political role. 

Mr Youngman was a qualified solicitor and had worked as an investment banker in London, before moving to Devon in 1990 to work for a West Country based investment group.

He worked most recently in an advisory role with Anvil Partners, aiding entrepreneurs  grow businesses before he retired in 2020.  

He lived with his wife, a retired vet, in Crediton, a town in Devon, where they farmed cattle and sheep. 

The couple had two Devon County Show Breed Champion Ruby Red Devon Bulls and Mr Youngman was a council member for the Devon Cattle Breeder’s Society. 

There were no suspicious circumstances and the inquest was adjourned for a full hearing to be held on a yet to be confirmed date.