A HGV driver from Netherton took his own life, a coroner concluded.

Geoffrey Maxted's body was discovered on the sofa at his Molyneux Road home on March 22.

The inquest, held at Black Country Coroners Court in Oldbury on Friday, was told that the alarm was raised by his landlord, who "hadn't seen or heard from him for about a month".

Police attended the 57-year-old divorcee's home and forced entry.

The court heard Mr Maxted had made the room airtight and filled it with carbon monoxide.

Mr Maxted was pronounced dead by paramedics shortly after 3.30pm.

No note was found at the scene.

Senior Coroner Zafar Siddique said the medical cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning but concluded that Mr Maxted had committed suicide.

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