A MILLIONAIRE businessman has been found dead at home just weeks after his wife lost her long fight against a crippling disease.The body of company boss Simon Staines was found at his Creeting St Mary home on Wednesday afternoon.

A MILLIONAIRE businessman has been found dead at home just weeks after his wife lost her long fight against a crippling disease.

The body of company boss Simon Staines was found at his Creeting St Mary home on Wednesday afternoon.

Police arrived shortly after an ambulance crew were called at 3.45pm to his bungalow in Fourdon Road to treat the father of three of suspected head injuries from a gunshot wound.

While police are investigating the death, they are not believed to be treating the death as suspicious. An inquest is due to be held soon.

The grim discovery comes as a double tragic blow to the Staines family who witnessed Mr Staines' wife Susan battle against motor neurone disease over five-and-half years. The grandmother of two died, aged 54, on August 23 this year.

Friends and neighbours were quick to pay tribute to Mr Staines, owner of the Staines and Golding welding company who was in his late 50s, as a respected businessman and devoted husband as they spoke of the shock and sorrow following his death.

Family friend Kevin McCarthy paid a moving tribute to a fellow welder who took him under his wing to show him "all the tricks of the trade".

"I had a great deal of time for him," said Mr McCarthy, 36.

"He's always been very helpful to me. He taught me the ropes – he showed me all the tricks of the trade and for that I'm grateful."

Mr McCarthy, the manager of Needham Fabrications Limited, was speaking from its Needham Market premises on the Lion Barn Industrial estate which were owned by Mr Staines and where he used to base his own company. He said he also owned several other lots on the estate.

Paying tribute to his business talents, he described his landlord and friend as "a workaholic," adding: "He was as sharp as a razor."

But the ordeal of watching his wife's brave struggle undoubtedly took its toll on Mr Staines, who moved his welding business four and a half years ago to the specially renovated property on Fourdon Road to help him care for his ailing wife, he added.

"He was like a lost soul without her. He looked after her and he did his best – that's all you can ask from anyone."

Gathered at the red-brick bungalow yesterday were his grown-up children Penny, Jo and Jonathan.

They were too upset to comment.