A HAKIN man who felt ‘worthless’ after taking early retirement, hanged himself in his garage, a coroner heard last week.

Stephen John Rees was found hanged in the garage of his home in Westaway Drive, by his son Andrew on April 27.

The inquest last Thursday heard that the 59-year-old worked as a BT engineer until February 2013, when he decided to take early retirement.

Coroner’s officer Jerome Davies said that Mr Rees was a keen sailor and a “fit and healthy man” who had only been to hospital once in his life when he slipped at work and injured his back.

He said that Mr Rees started to feel pressured at work two years ago, and was facing disciplinary action for failing to meet deadlines. But he was cleared of any wrongdoing.

The court heard that Mr Rees, who attended Hubberston junior and Milford Haven grammar schools, took early retirement but soon regretted his decision due to financial pressures.

Mr Davies said: “BT declined his request to come back to work and he became unusually withdrawn, stopped seeing his friends and sailing.

“He felt worthless without a daily job and regretted making the decision to take early retirement. He was bad tempered with everyone around him and said he couldn’t live with himself anymore.”

The coroner heard that after Mr Rees failed to pick up the shopping, his son Andrew came to check on him.

Mr Davies said: “He found him hanging in the corner of the garage.”

Mr Rees was pronounced dead by paramedics.

It was later discovered that from April 24, Mr Rees had used his iPad to visit numerous websites with information about suicide.

The inquest heard that Mr Rees’ diary entry from April 24 indicated that he intended to take his own life.

Pathologist Dr Daniel Houser said that the cause of death was asphyxia by hanging.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Pembrokeshire Coroner Mark Layton said: “Following his early retirement, Stephen Rees fell into deep depression which culminated in him ending his life.

“I am satisfied that it was a deliberate act on his part. Mr Rees killed himself.”