Student confronted him, drove to field and hanged herself, inquest hears

One said: 'Straight after my 21st and after he has spent £2,000 I'm gone'

An academic's daughter was found hanged in a field close to the home of a boyfriend who had just broken up with her by text in a row over 21st birthday gifts, an inquest heard.

Nina Paunova, a fashion student known as the 'Beauty of Beverley' - her home town in East Yorkshire - had also cut her wrists at a secluded spot before she died on September 8 last year.

An inquest into her death heard that she was in a 'rocky' relationship with Sam Scott, and she had previously threatened to throw herself off a balcony during a row.

Mr Scott dumped her by text when he was forwarded Nina's messages claiming she would 'ditch him' after he spent £2,000 on gifts for her 21st birthday.

Tragedy: Nina Paunova, a fashion student known as the 'Beauty of Beverley', hanged herself in a field after her boyfriend Sam Scott, right, dumped her in a row over her 21st birthday

Row: Nina drove her car through a hedge at more than 60mph into a nearby field and hanged herself after cutting her wrists

He told the inquest yesterday he had already spent £10,000 on jewellery and clothing, £4,500 on trips to London and Paris and at least £2,000 on holidays to Croatia and Menorca.

But he ended the relationship when he was sent Nina's texts to her friend Elizabeth Gough, via Miss Gough's boyfriend.

The messages said: 'I told you what my plan is. Straight after my 21st and after he has spent £1,000 to £2,000 I'm gone.

'After all the s*** I've put up with. I will literally take my presents and the week after my 21st end it and delete him.'

Miss Paunova, who was moved to the UK from Bulgaria at the age of five, studied art and design at Bishop Burton College where she received a triple distinction in her final exams.

She had also won a scholarship for university and was due to start her final year of a fashion and marketing degree at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Her heartbroken family described her as 'stunning, bright and hard-working'.

In the hours before her death Miss Paunova, who was 'obsessed with social media', drove to her ex-boyfriend's house to confront him but was refused entry and threatened to kill herself.

She then drove her car through a hedge at more than 60mph into a nearby field and hanged herself after cutting her wrists.

Her parents warned her not to get back together with her boyfriend Sam after a two month break but they had rekindled their relationship and were going on holiday three days after her death.

The student had sent a text to her mother Niviana before she killed herself which included the words: 'I guess I should have listened sooner.'

Row: Nina had sent a friend a message claiming she would dump her boyfriend after he splashed out for her 21st birthday - her 'shocked and devastated' father Vesselin, right, and family paid tribute to her

Her worried family called the police and reported her missing but claims officers failed to update them on their search.

Mrs Paunova later discovered her daughter's death after hearing a report on the radio about road delays and drove to the scene and found it was where her daughter had died.

Her father, Vesselin Paunov, a professor of chemistry at the University of Hull, said Mr Scott, who is from a 'wealthy family' in the East Riding, spent large amounts of money on his daughter.

He said: 'She seemed almost obsessed, but totally in love with Sam.

'In their second year together, Nina said Sam had changed. He became different and Nina said Sam would want her to pay her way more but still live the expensive lifestyle and she struggled.

'In May 2015 they separated and Nina was very upset. After some time, Sam started to contact her about starting up the relationship again, and they got back together against my advice.'

The inquest continues today.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local Samaritans branch, or click for here details.



