A POPULAR Frodsham man who tried to kill himself seven times in 34 years was found hanged in his home, an inquest heard.

Douglas James Hayes was found by his son Scott, who was visiting his father on October 24, in the hall way of his home on Coronation Drive, Frodsham while mechanics fixed his van outside.

The 46-year-old process operator for ICI had been suffering from mood swings, depression and anxiety for years, despite being known as a cheerful family man.

An inquest heard how Mr Hayes first overdosed when he was just 13 years old at about the time that he was allegedly sexually assaulted by a teacher.

A doctor’s report revealed that since 1977 Mr Hayes had taken five overdoses and had made two attempts to gas himself before being stopped.

Speaking at an inquest held at Warrington Coroner's court yesterday (Wednesday), Mr Hayes's brother Neil, said: “I last saw him a week before he died. We went out for something to eat and watched the football, but when we came back he brought up the time when he was interfered with by a teacher.

“For him to bring that up worried us, this has been on his mind all of his life.”

Neil said that his brother had been married three times, divorced twice and was separated from his wife Maria. He was engaged to Julie Knott.

Neil said that his brother would ring him after he had overdosed or self harmed, saying: “He would do it and then phone you up. He would do silly things. “The older he got the more he started to think about his life.”

Two days before his death neighbours said they heard shouting coming from the Frodsham house as Mr Hayes and his fiancée argued.

In the hours before he died Mr Hayes is thought to have called his fiancée and shouted at her down the phone, before going to his van to get the rope.

Born in Chester in 1964, Mr Hayes was brought up in Runcorn with his brother Neil and sister Amanda.

He was a keen athlete and had represented the county at running competitions.

Recording his death, the Deputy Coroner for Cheshire Dr Janet Elizabeth Napier said that most of the suicide attempts coincided with the break downs in relationships.

She added: “Maybe these were cries for help.”

Verdict: Death by hanging