AN OBSESSED man who went on a £1,100 crack and alcohol binge before attacking his ex-wife during a four-day armed siege committed suicide, an inquest jury decided on Wednesday.

Drug dealer Paul Green, 44, spent the money in just two days before bursting into Natasha Green's home in Haskells Road, Parkstone, at 5.30am on May 2 last year, and hitting her round the head with a sawn-off shotgun as four of her children watched in terror, the inquest heard.

Paul, from Yeovil, sent the children out of the house and Natasha escaped two hours later, but he stayed in the house alone for four days before shooting himself through the heart, surrounded by photographs of Natasha and the children.

The jury took over an hour to return a majority verdict that he had taken his own life.

The inquest had heard that Paul, who had developed a £500-a-day crack cocaine habit, was violent and controlling to women, had an antisocial personality disorder and had become obsessed with Natasha.

Coroner Sheriff Payne said: "He had a conversation with his brother in Yeovil where he was very depressed and said he had put a gun to his head the day before.

"He was fed up with life, fed up with Natasha, and wanted to see his children. He made macho expressions to others that he would go out with a bang."

Consultant nurse and drugs expert Jood Gibbens said the after-effects of the crack would have left Paul desperate, paranoid and consumed by jealousy during the siege.

"He likely felt he had no other option when he took his own life," she said.

Following the verdict, Detective Superintendent Phil James said: "We have heard from the coroner it was described as both a horrific and terrifying incident, but I think we need to remember this was a culmination of long-standing domestic violence."

He appealed to other people suffering domestic violence not to let it reach this stage.

"Don't suffer alone," he said. "There are a number of organisations, most particularly the police, who are willing to help. Seek that help out."

As an automatic requirement an investigation was held into the police handling of the siege but no complaints were made and no further action taken.

First published: October 13