A DEBT-ridden builder gassed himself in a ‘methodical and planned’ suicide, an inquest heard.

Bernard Lewis Gorst, of Green Lane, Davenham, was found dead in his garage by the postman after suffocating himself with car exhaust fumes, the inquest at Crewe Coroner’s Court heard on Wednesday.

The 57-year-old left a note on his letter box instructing post man John Lavin to go to the garage, where he discovered a large piece of plasterboard on the windscreen of the car with ‘danger, carbon monoxide’ written on it.

He searched the garage and found Mr Gorst’s body lying on a blanket next to the exhaust pipe of the blue Mercedes. He had placed a bible alongside an organised pile of bills and a note detailing his debts.

Upon searching his house, police found his belongings had been packed away as if ready to leave and documents concerning the ongoing sale of his house and bank correspondence laid out on a desk. A bottle of Kalms was also found by his single bed and he had posted copies of his financial documents to a friend in Exeter.

Insp Simon Wheel, said: “The note mentioned a bank loan and had a morbid theme.

“It was quite clear that he’d thought about killing himself for a great deal of time.”

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Gorst had a 76 per cent concentration of carbon monoxide in his blood.

Coroner Nicholas Rheinburg recorded a verdict of suicide and added: “In normal circumstances Mr Gorst was a contented person.

“Clearly he organised his affairs quite methodically and events had been planned.”