A hero sub-postmaster from Melksham who once confronted an armed robber to protect his family committed suicide by cutting his throat with a scalpel, an inquest heard.

Robert Coulson, 54, was found in his bath by police community support officer Debbie Huntley after a pool of blood was found in the bedroom of his home, on September 1, 2008.

Mr Coulson lived at the former Woodrow Post Office in Woodrow Road.

Wiltshire coroner David Ridley, sitting in Trowbridge yesterday, recorded a verdict of suicide after hearing evidence from members of Mr Coulson’s family, including his estranged wife Carol Coulson, daughter Nicola, and mother-in-law Pauline Tandy, who lived in an annexe nextdoor to his home.

The inquest heard how Mr Coulson had paid great attention to detail in his life. A suicide note was found in his bedroom.

His former wife described him as a ‘perfectionist’ and said little things would cause him to become irritable.

She also told the court he had owned a green Rover that had been his pride and joy since he bought it at the age of 24. Following the discovery of his body the car was found with more than £1,000 worth of damage to it in his garage.

Giving evidence, his mother in-law Pauline Tandy said: “We don’t know why his car was damaged, but if he had accidentally knocked it, it would have broken his heart.

“I can’t see why he did it, because everything was going so right. Why, why did he do it? The damage to the car could have tipped him over the edge, yes.”

Mr Coulson had attempted suicide before, being found in the New Forest with an exhaust pipe linked up to the inside of his car in the late 1970s.

He was hailed a hero after a robber armed with a gun broke into his post office in August 2002. Mr Coulson stayed locked in a room with the intruder, while his wife called police. The gunman fled the scene after 10 minutes.

The post office was also targeted in November 2004, when Mrs Coulson was pinned to her bed by two men in the middle of the night, while her stepfather Kenneth Tandy was tied up downstairs. The robbers made off with £4,000.

Following the inquest, Mrs Tandy, 75, said: “I loved him deeply and we were very close. He was always there to help me and my husband with anything.

“If we needed something lifting or if I needed help changing the bed or a lift to the airport he would be there.

“I knew him since he was 19 and he will be very much missed.”