A RETIRED painter and decorator shot himself in the head on a Suffolk estate an inquest heard.Albert Atkinson of Felixstowe Road, Nacton used a shotgun to take his own life at the side of a fishing pond on Orwell Park estate on June 11.

A RETIRED painter and decorator shot himself in the head on a Suffolk estate an inquest heard.

Albert Atkinson of Felixstowe Road, Nacton used a shotgun to take his own life at the side of a fishing pond on Orwell Park estate on June 11.

An inquest into the 68-year-old's death at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich yesterday heard that he had made threats to his family to kill himself that morning.

Greater Suffolk Coroner Dr Peter Dean, recording a verdict of suicide, said: “It does appear from the circumstances that he had sadly taken a decision to take his own life.

“Our thoughts are very much with his family and those close to him at this time.”

The court heard how police officers from Felixstowe were called to a reported suicide at the Lady Wood pond on the Orwell Park estate.

On their arrival the estate manager took them over to where Mr Atkinson's body was laying with a shotgun barrel still pointing towards his head.

A subsequent police investigation into his death determined there were no suspicious circumstances.

Dr Dean said: “It appears from the history that he made a threat to kill himself that morning.

“There were certain personal details given in statements of difficulties at that time.

“I would just suggest there were clearly professional concerns Mr Atkinson had at that time.”

Robert Gosling, the estate's manger and a friend of Mr Atkinson's had a conversation with him on the day of his death where he had expressed suicidal thoughts.

A post mortem examination conducted by consultant pathologist Dr Jason Wong found the cause of death to be a shotgun wound to the head.

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