MARRIED maintenance worker Paul Newman hanged himself from a garage rafter after his affair with a supermarket employee was exposed.

Mr Newman took drastic action just days after bosses at Tesco in Trowbridge blew the lid on his illicit affair with checkout worker Michelle Raymond.

The 62-year-old, contracted to work at the store through maintenance firm M1, was forced to resign over the fling.

Jilted wife Irene told Wiltshire coroner David Masters her husband thought his age would stop him getting work but two job offers arrived in the post just days after the suicide.

Mrs Newman, who found her husband's body in the garage of their Almond Grove home on January 8, said she thought they were moving on despite the revelations.

"We had booked a holiday. We were both going forward. It was a huge shock," she said.

Miss Raymond, who was sacked from the County Way store, visited her ex-lover's home on the day he committed suicide and posted a sealed letter and pair of earrings through the letterbox. This letter was later found unopened.

In a statement Miss Raymond said the last time she saw the 62-year-old was on December 27 when the affair was unmasked.

Howard Walker, the jilted boyfriend of Miss Raymond, said in a statement he had twice been to his love rival's home to confront him about the affair the last time on the day before the hanging.

Acting Trowbridge police sergeant Mark Wallace, one of the first officers on the scene, said Mr Newman's body had been hanging for some time because the rope had frayed and slipped down the rafter.

Mr Newman's son, David, found a computer-written note in a toolbox, which began 'By the time you read this I will be dead'.

Wiltshire coroner Mr Masters, who held the inquest at Chippenham magistrates' court on Thursday, said he was convinced suicide was the right verdict.

Mr Masters said the method of hanging would have led to "instant death".

Verdict: Suicide.