A LANDSCAPE gardener hanged himself on Christmas Day because his marriage to the woman he was "besotted" with broke down.

Matthew Newton separated from his wife Amelia a few months before Christmas.

He was supposed to join her for lunch with friends on the 25th but told her "he'd rather slit his wrists".

An inquest at Worcestershire Coroner's Court yesterday heard a written report from Mr Newton's wife which said he had become "tearful and withdrawn" after their separation.

Mr Newton, of Briar Close, Evesham, was pronounced dead at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Tuesday, December 28.

Coroner Victor Round said Mr Newton, aged 29, visited his wife on Christmas morning.

"Amelia said he seemed fine but wouldn't go to lunch because he wouldn't be very good company and said he'd rather slit his wrists but she thought that was a joke," said Mr Round.

Mr Newton's wife and her brother, Paul Simmonds, then visited him in the evening.

"Paul went into the back room and told Amelia not to go in. In the front room sombre music was playing.

"Paul said he saw Matthew hanging in the stairway.

"He said he never mentioned suicide to him and seem to be cheering up and looking forward to New Year's Eve."

Mr Round called it "an unbelievably grim Christ mas Day".

He recorded the verdict that he killed himself and the death was due to ligature suspension.

Speaking outside the court, Mr Newton's father, Martin, said: "He wasn't in love with his wife, he was besotted."