A 41-YEAR-old carpenter took his own life, possibly as a consequence of depression over his brother's death 14 years ago, according to a coroner.

Steven O'Brien, of Exhall Close, Church Hill, was found by police in the passenger seat of a Ford Escort in a car park in Old Forge Drive, Park Farm, in the early hours of August 11.

Blood tests showed he overdosed on the drug dextropropoxyphene combined with moderate alcohol, said Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round last week.

Mr Round told the hearing Mr O'Brien, originally from Swindon, had suffered bouts of depression since his brother had taken his own life 14 years ago.

His family had noticed Mr O'Brien was affected around the anniversary of his brother's death, said Mr Round.

He had not worked in three years but had started a new job a day before he went missing.

Mr Round said his partner had told how he felt he had lost his confidence and had tried to call him on his second day at work but his phone was off.

She expected him back about 9.30pm on the evening of August 10 but he did not return.

She and Mr O'Brien's sister set about looking for him but it was not until 3.45am the following day a police patrol found him in the car park.

Mr Round said: "There were no notes but the anniversary of his brother's death was late July and his partner noticed he always had a crisis about that time."

Mr Round said in view of this and the other circumstances, he was sure Mr O'Brien had intended to end his own life.