Family Claims Vodafone Pressure Led to Death

Adrian Howe, a 58-year-old Vodafone employee of over two decades, was found drowned in a lake, with his family now questioning the circumstances of his death. His family suspects suicide, citing alleged pressure from Vodafone to take on two franchise stores, one in Irvine and another in Kilmarnock. A note discovered in Howe's home, reading '1st September, nice to have death,' is believed by his family to be a reference to the store openings scheduled for the following day.

Vodafone has denied forcing Howe to take on a poorly performing store, stating it was his choice to become a franchise partner. However, the company faces a high court claim from 62 former franchisees who accuse Vodafone of failing to act in good faith and enriching itself by reducing commissions. Similar allegations have been made by other former franchisees who claim they were pressured into taking on failing stores, impacting their mental health.

The official death certificate lists drowning and an underlying heart condition as causes of death, with a post-mortem suggesting a history of anxiety and depression as potential factors. Howe's son reported that his father expressed feeling trapped by Vodafone, stating, 'Vodafone have got me by the balls.' His sister also revealed Howe feared losing his home due to a personal guarantee agreement for the stores.

The family is now calling for legal changes to better protect franchisees and hold Vodafone accountable. In response, Vodafone stated the matter is a commercial dispute, refuted the claims, and expressed sadness over Howe's death, describing him as a respected employee. The company maintained that requiring franchisees to demonstrate access to three months of operating costs is standard practice.