A foreign currency trader took his own life in woodland near his Cotswolds home after getting heavily into debt to loan companies, an inquest heard yesterday.

Jonathan Price, 47, of Toddington, nr Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, left his wedding ring, a suicide note, and spreadsheets setting out his debts.

Gloucestershire coroner Katie Skerrett said a post mortem had found death to be due to hanging. Toxicological tests were negative for alcohol and drugs.

The coroner said she had received a police report saying "his wife returned home to find his wedding ring and a suicide note explaining where he could be found. She contacted the police.

"Then with a friend she went to the area and found him. She and her friend performed CPR.

"In the house was a spreadsheet setting out financial debts that he was clearly concerned about."

The coroner said "I have seen a copy of the note and the spreadsheets. I don't need to go into any detail of those.

"They help me understand what was going through his mind at the time.

"No internet searches for suicide methods were found but there were emails which were predominately from loan companies.

"There is also a message sent to his son giving clear evidence of suicidal thinking."

Recording a conclusion of suicide, the coroner said "We know this gentleman was clearly very worried about his financial situation.

"He was trying in some way to address his financial problems. He took himself away from the home where he knew he was not going to be disturbed.

"It is clear to me, looking at the evidence, the wording of the suicide notes, the detailing of the debts in the spreadsheets, the location he was found in and the mechanism of death that he intended to take his own life.

"I am satisfied he took the most drastic action he could to get himself out of what he believed was a desperate situation. It was a tragic loss of a young family man."

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