A 55-year-old man killed himself after battling depression and anxiety, an inquest heard yesterday.

Howard Hodson, of Church Lane in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, near Wallingford, was found hanged in an outbuilding at his home on June 3.

Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court heard how the unemployed taxi driver had previously taken a prescription drug overdose and had been in mental health professionals’ care.

His wife of 22 years, Josephine, said in a statement read in court he had been in a “normal” mood and had texted her throughout the day before he died.

She returned home at 5.25pm and found a note telling her to call her sister and not to enter the outbuilding. Mrs Hodson called the police, who found his body alongside suicide notes.

The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.

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