LOVING father and caring grandad Ray Hoare killed himself with a hunting crossbow because of worries over his health, a breakdown in his domestic life and mounting money fears, an inquest heard yesterday.

Mr Hoare, 59, lived at Box Hedge in Wanborough with his partner Sheila Jennings, who he had lived with since his marriage ended.

In a statement read out by assistant deputy Wiltshire Coroner Claire Balsyz, Ms Jennings said she bought the camouflaged hunting crossbow for Mr Hoare, who also had an air rifle.

On October 5 last year, a tourist visiting Marlborough called police when he found a Ford Escort van parked in Savernake Forest with its windows blacked out with plastic bags with a notice written in white on one saying “Call the police”.

When police arrived, PC Emma Brown told the inquest, they suspected a chemical suicide and waited while the van was checked and an officer broke a side window. PC Brown said she attended the scene with other officers and saw the van with Ray’s Property Maintenance written on the side with its cab windows obscured with black plastic with the “call the police” message written inside the driver’s door window.

When officers broke a window and entered the van they discovered a dead man in the passenger seat and WPC Brown said: “There appeared to be a crossbow bolt protruding from his mouth and the crossbow was by his waist.”

She said a driving licence hanging by a lanyard from the steering wheel identified the driver as Mr Hoare and she said no-one could see into the van because of the plastic blackouts.

Pathologist Dr John Lawrence said Mr Hoare died as a result of a penetrative injury to the brain caused by a crossbow bolt.

Mr Hoare’s daughter Fiona Stenson, from Eldene, said: “He was a very loving father and a very proud grandfather.”

Mrs Stenson said her father was heartbroken when he had to give up his career as a long distance lorry driver when he developed diabetes.

“He hated his diabetes and it was hard for him to accept that he had an illness and was unable to control it,” said Mrs Stenson, who added that after losing his HGV licence, her father started a decorating and building business.

“He enjoyed it at first but as the years went on it became increasingly hard and the money was not coming in,” said Mrs Stenson.

“He was quite down on a number of occasions... He suggested he might take his own life.”

He left his wife but kept in touch with his grandchildren and he had increasing money worries.

In conclusion the coroner said it was clear from the note left by Mr Hoare that he intended taking his own life.