A HAMPSHIRE father who hanged himself in the family home was suffering from growing financial worries, an inquest heard.

Father-of-two Martin Hills, of Westfield House, Lymington, was found hanged by his wife, Geraldine, after writing an email suggesting she would be “better off without him,” Winchester Coroner’s Court was told.

The 49-year-old, a systems analyst, had been with her since he was a teenager.

But Mrs Hills told the inquest on Monday that their marriage suffered problems with money, raising teenagers and Mr Hills’ growing drinking problem.

“It used to be social but in the last few years it’s just been alone,” she said. “It was a slow build-up.

“It was having a depressive effect on him. He wouldn’t start saying ‘oh, woe is me’ because then I might have an inkling that he was depressed, but he became slightly agitated and irritated, and things made him cross.”

The couple went for dinner with his brother the weekend before his death in March 27, the inquest heard. Mr Hills walked out of the restaurant, forcing them to follow him.

“There was something definitely not right with him that day,” Mrs Hills said.

Mr Hills, who never sought help for depression, responded to a text at around 12.45pm acknowledging his wife was out on errands.

She returned less than an hour later to find a note saying he was “in the garage” and suggesting she call 999.

Mrs Hills entered the garage to find him hanging, the inquest heard.

She cut him down and attempted CPR but he was already dead.

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

He said: “There’s no evidence that he was an alcoholic and there’s no evidence that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of his death.

“The sad part in this case, and indeed in many cases, is that Martin didn’t feel able to seek help, to talk to others that may have been able to help him and that he in his own mind could see no way out.”