A FORMER military man who thought he was being persecuted was found dead in his bath.

Walter Bennett, aged 76, was discovered by a warden from the sheltered accommodation on Thursday, April 12, an inquest at Worcester was told.

He had superficial cuts to his neck and wrist and was fully clothed. The bath was filled with water.

Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round heard Mr Bennett had told his neighbour just a few days earlier that he would hang himself.

Deirdre Lewis, Mr Bennett's neighbour, said she became worried when she had not seen him for several days.

In a statement, Mrs Lewis said he was "a kind man" but was "very mixed up, he always thought someone was following him".

"I would've thought he was mentally ill, he talked in riddles," she added.

A post-mortem concluded Mr Bennett, of Perrett Walk, Kidderminster, died from multiple causes.

He had suffered haemorrhaging from his cuts, had several small blood clots and heart disease. The haemorrhaging may have caused a degree of shock leading to his death, said the post-mortem report.

Mr Round said that although Mr Bennett's wounds were self-inflicted, he would not be recording a verdict of suicide.

"He cut himself, not deeply, but it made a mess," said Mr Round. "He then got in the bath to stop it.

"These aren't the actions of someone who has made his mind up to commit suicide, yet he'd attempted it."

He recorded an open verdict.