A CHIPPENHAM man whose body was discovered in woodland last year after he went missing from his home committed suicide, the Wiltshire coroner has ruled.

Stephen Clarke was reported missing to police by his family in the early hours of November 7, after leaving his house on Woodlands Road.

in His green Mitsubishi Shogun.

The vehicle was later found at Stanton St Quinton village hall the next day containing tablet boxes, and Mr Clarke’s body was discovered hanging in woodland behind the building that afternoon.

A handwritten note was discovered in his pocket.

An inquest at Salisbury Coroners’ Court on Tuesday heard that the 51-year-old had died from a compression to the neck and that his body contained low levels of medication and alcohol, which “did not have an impact on his death”.

A statement read to the court said Mr Clarke had a history of depression dating back to 1996 but that he had weaned off medication by 2011. He had no history of self-harm apart from a previous overdose 15 years ago, which was described as a cry for help.

The court heard how Mr Clarke, who was born on September 27, 1964, in Melksham, had been working as a printer at a company near Bristol for almost 13 years.

The firm supplied high-quality cardboard for brewing companies and he was the number one printer, a job with a large amount of responsibility, and had been contacted via e-mail in October 2015 regarding the packaging quality.

He was concerned that he might lose his job despite raising concerns with the management over the quality and reliability of the printers, and was signed off from work due to stress for two weeks on October 26.

Mr Clarke was admitted to the Royal United Hospital in Bath on November 4, 2015, having taken an overdose of painkillers and paracetamol, sleeping pills and ibuprofen as well as homemade mead because he was “intent on ending his life”.

In a statement read to the court, it was described how he “wanted to return to a happy family life but did not know how” and was kept in hospital for 24 hours.

He returned home on November 5 to be with his wife, Tamsin, who he had known since they were 16 and married in 1990, and their four children.

Mr Clarke was described as “subdued” and “had something on his mind” after returning home, and left the house sometime after 12.30am on November 7 before his body was discovered the next day.

Wiltshire coroner David Ridley said: “The police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

“Taking into the account the note and reading that, taking into account the medication he took to alleviate the pain and that it takes planning to end one’s life with tying of the rope, I am sure that he did intend to end his own life.”

Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Clarke said: “As a family we would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support in the last few months.

“Steve was a truly incredible, genuine and kind-hearted man, a fantastic husband and father to his four children. He is loved and missed every single day by us all.”