Suicide of bankrupt farmer in 'dire straits'

Robert Dearnley, 58, was heading towards financial ruin and left a "broken man" by long-running disputes with local authorities and agencies.

He also faced the heartache of his wife Margaret moving out and the possibility of losing contact with his daughter, Bobby-Jo.

Mr Dearnley, described as "impetuous" but "kind and gentle", committed suicide by breathing in the noxious substance at Burpham Court Farm in Guildford, Surrey.

The inquest at Woking Coroner's Court heard that after inhaling the fumes he called 999. Police mistook the sounds of peacocks in the background for those of a woman choking and treated the call as a possible domestic incident, but when they arrived officers found Mr Dearnley slumped in the bathroom and he warned the officers of the fumes. Firefighters in protective suits had to be called in.

Days before his death, Mr Dearnley was subdued with a Taser gun after threatening a police officer with a pitch- fork before being arrested on suspicion of affray following a domestic incident at the farm. He was examined before being quizzed by police and bailed.

During the examination, Dr Philip Bisazza said he outlined his problems, including long-running legal disputes involving the National Trust and his landlord, Guildford Borough Council.

He said: "He told me he was worried that he was in custody because his animals needed looking after, and he said his wife wasn't interested and they were in dire straits.

Dr Bisazza said that "not once" did Mr Dearnley give him the impression that he might take his own life".

Recording a suicide verdict, Surrey Coroner Michael Burgess said: "He was clearly a troubled man with a lot of problems."