Soham Man Who Was Depressed After Losing His Job Shot Himself At Home

DISTRAUGHT and depressed after losing his job, JCB driver John Hobbs shot himself in the garden of his Soham home. Just one day after being made redundant, 63-year-old Mr Hobbs went into a deep depression. From that day, the John I knew and loved was gon

DISTRAUGHT and depressed after losing his job, JCB driver John Hobbs shot himself in the garden of his Soham home.

Just one day after being made redundant, 63-year-old Mr Hobbs went into a deep depression.

"From that day, the John I knew and loved was gone, and we began to argue," his loving wife Gwendoline told an inquest at Ely Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

"He was anxious and desperate to find a new job," she said in a statement to the coroner. "He started to worry about bills and money, because he only received Job Seeker's allowance."

Mr Hobbs was so desperate to get a new job, that he even approached members of the public in the doctor's surgery car park, asking for a job, said Mrs Hobbs.

He lost nearly two stone in weight over a 10-week period. "He looked gaunt; he was a shell of himself.

"His behaviour became worse, and he said he wished he was dead."

Mr Hobbs, who had been diabetic for 10 years, died on May 17 from a traumatic head injury, five days after being prescribed anti-depressants.

Mr and Mrs Hobbs had been married for 43 years, and lived together in Cornmills Road at Soham.

"Sometime in the afternoon I heard a very loud bang from the rear garden, it sounded like a shotgun, I was very worried," said Mrs Hobbs in her statement.

He started work for Bradford Properties in 1967; he was very proud of his job, and always eager to get work.

After being diagnosed with diabetes, Mr Hobbs struggled with his weight, and found taking his medication a chore.

He was looking forward to retirement, but in December last year was given 12 weeks' notice, and even offered to work for half pay.

Coroner William Morris recorded verdict of suicide.