A shopkeeper facing energy bills of £5,000 killed himself after British Gas staff turned up unannounced to cut off his electricity, an inquest has been told.
Anthony Waters, 48, was serving customers at his family-run convenience store when workmen arrived in a convoy of three vehicles with a warrant to “de-energise” his shop.
Despite Mr Waters’s assurances that he could raise £1,000, the British Gas staff said it was not enough and plunged the shop into darkness.
The shopkeeper warned the workmen that he was going to kill himself, and when they left he locked the doors and hanged himself in a stock room.
The family of Mr Waters yesterday condemned the behaviour of British Gas after a coroner ruled that his suicide was triggered