A MAN shot himself after being tormented by constant ringing in his ears, a coroner’s court was told.

John Sullivan, 74, killed himself with a shotgun at his home in North Street, Nazeing, on January 30, while his wife, Eileen Sullivan, was out for the day.

Mrs Sullivan told the court during the inquest at Shire Hall, Chelmsford today (Wednesday) that he had tinnitus - a ringing or humming noise that only the sufferer can hear.

She said her husband would ask her to be quiet or turn the radio off because of the condition.

“He was a peaceful, quiet man,” she added. “He just wanted to be quiet, but it had just gradually got worse.”

On the day of his death, she had gone to her grandson’s birthday party.

“He didn’t want to go out on the Sunday,” she said. “He wanted to stay at home and asked me if I would ask my sister to take me to my grandson’s birthday.

“He was 14 and I had baked him a cake. It was in Suffolk, so it was quite a long way.”

When she returned home at the end of the day, she found her husband dead.

He left a note explaining that the tinnitus was becoming unbearable, but Mrs Sullivan said she had seen no signs that he was planning to kill himself.

“I had no idea - no idea,” she added. “It was just a total shock.”

She believes Mr Sullivan died between 10.30am, when he spoke to a relative on the phone, and 1pm, when he failed to answer another call.

His cause of death was given as head injuries due to gun shot wounds.

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of suicide.

She added: “With regard to the method he used and the contents of the note - he was clearly suffering as a result of the tinnitus. It was clearly getting him down.

“My verdict is that John Sullivan killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed.”