Man killed himself by driving car into river

A father of two killed himself by driving his car into a river after he had attacked his wife, an inquest heard.

The body of Damian Tudge, of Shrawley Avenue, Kidderminster, was found by a search team in the River Severn at Bewdley, 19 months after he went missing.

On the night he vanished, he sent his wife a text saying: "I love you and I will always love you and the kids."

It went on: "But after what I have just done I'm going to do the right thing and I hope you do, too."

A welder at his brother-in-law's firm Riteweld in Platts Road, Amblecote, Mr Tudge had not been seen since the early hours of November 14, 2008.

His blue Peugeot 205 was pulled from the river near Bewdley Town FC on June 9, with Mr Tudge's body inside.

Mr Tudge suffered from depression but had stopped taking medication against doctors' advice, his wife said.

An inquest at Worcestershire Coroner's Court in Stourport yesterday heard Mr Tudge had been out drinking with Mrs Tudge on the night he disappeared.

He knocked back "drink after drink", she told the inquest.

When the couple arrived home at about 2am, Mrs Tudge had to be helped to the toilet by her husband as she had "had a skinful", she said.

When she got to her feet again, Mr Tudge then "launched" at her and grabbed her throat, she said. This had been out of character. He then fled the property and was never seen by his family again, she said.

Worcestershire Coroner Geraint Williams recorded a verdict that Mr Tudge had killed himself.