A WEYMOUTH shop owner who was found dead at his parents’ home committed suicide, an inquest has ruled.

Father-of-four Mark Kessock-Philip, owner of Kessock Models in St Edmund Street, died at his parents’ home in Wilton Drive on November 29 last year.

An inquest into his death at County Hall in Dorchester was told that 38-year-old Mr Kessock-Philip took his own life by suffocating himself after recently splitting from his wife.

PC Aiden Meredith, who attended the address on the morning of November 29, said he was told by paramedics at the scene that Mr Kessock-Philip's body had been discovered by his wife.

PC Meredith said he spoke to Zena Kessock-Philip, who explained that she and her husband had separated around five weeks before and he had moved out of their Lanehouse Rocks Road home to stay at his parents’ home in Wilton Drive.

She said Mr Kessock-Philip's parents were abroad at the time and she had gone round to pick up the family laptop when she discovered her husband’s body in a bedroom upstairs.

PC Meredith said on the bed he found a typed note saying ‘do not resuscitate’ and a hand-written card with the letters DNR.

He added that a note was also left on the family laptop for Mrs Kessock-Philip in which Mr Kessock-Philip signalled his intention to take his own life, and four further suicide notes, including a letter to his parents, were later retrieved from the family safe.

PC Meredith said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston said: “He has left notes which clearly indicate his intention and I will record that he took his own life.”

He added: “It is indeed sad that a 38-year-old should feel it necessary to do this.”

Mr Kessock-Philip was a popular figure among radio-controlled helicopter enthusiasts and following his death tributes poured in from around the country.