An inquest has opened into the death of Simon Howard.
The Castle Howard aristocrat died aged 66 on 27 February at York Hospital.
An inquest opened into the death of Mr Howard – full name Simon Bartholomew Geoffrey Howard – in Northallerton yesterday (Wednesday).
The provisional cause of his death was hypoglycemic encephalopathy, caused by a very low blood glucose level; insulin-dependent diabetes, and epilepsy, it was revealed as his inquest was opened.
North Yorkshire assistant coroner Oliver Langstaff added that a traumatic brain injury, suffered during a fall in 2020, also contributed to the death of Mr Howard, who lived at Welham Hall, Malton.
After formally opening the inquest, Mr Longstaff said a date would be set for a full hearing in due course.
Mr Howard became chairman of Castle Howard on the death of his father Lord Howard of Henderskelfe and carried on his father’s work in conserving and restoring the Grade I listed stately home and surrounding parkland.
But at the end of 2014, he stepped down as chairman and chief executive of Castle Howard Estate Ltd.
He and his family moved out of the stately home near Malton, as elder brother Nick Howard became non executive co-chairman and Nick’s wife Victoria became executive co-chairman.
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Last November, Simon Howard was found to have committed indecent assault and incited a child to commit an indecent act by a York Crown Court jury.
The aristocrat was in his 20s when he abused the girl in the gatehouse of the estate in 1984.
Mr Howard was found not fit to stand trial due to the brain injury he suffered in a fall following his arrest.
However, he was placed on the sex-offenders’ register for five years, which is automatic for such offences.