A SOUTHAMPTON dad struggling with debt and divorce hanged himself in woodland, an inquest heard.

Army veteran Antony Davis was found dead in woodland by Southampton Sports Centre, near his home in Dunvegan Drive, Lordswood on February 22.

The inquest heard how the 37-year-old was troubled by debt, his estranged wife’s refusal to sign divorce papers and lack of access to his children.

He was also profoundly affected by his mother’s suicide in 1995, Winchester Coroner’s Court was told.

Klaudia Rimble, Mr Davis’ partner at the time of his death, said he intentionally overdosed on pills three weeks earlier. He claimed to have been planning it for three years, she said in a statement read to the inquest.

But she added: “Antony had become more positive, We were going to get a new car, new loan, a new home, he had seen his children, he was getting his vasectomy reversed, so he was happy.”

The 37-year-old expressed depressive thoughts to his brother, Chris, and on February 21 texted him to say he was suicidal.

Police found Mr Davis hanged with a phone and bottle of whisky in his pocket. Blood tests showed he was two times over the drink-drive limit.

Chris Davis denied Ms Rimble’s claims that his brother had planned the suicide. “I’d never seen it and I’m the closest person to him in the world,” he said.

“We both despised suicide.”

Senior central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of suicide.