A DUDLEY man killed himself after threatening his wife with an air pistol while banned from visiting his family home.

Brian Franklin, aged 42, died from severe burns after torching the house in Wood Street.

Mr Franklin, who was on bail and barred from going to the address, went to the house and instructed his son and stepson to leave the building.

He threatened his estranged wife with the gun and poured petrol on her, telling her he would set her alight, he also doused the building in petrol.

At an inquest into Mr Franklin’s death on September 12, Black Country senior coroner Robin Balmain concluded the 42-year-old mechanic killed himself, he said a note had been found which hinted Mr Franklin was planning to carry out an event of this sort.

Mr Franklin arrived at the house at just after 6pm on February 8 and, following the disturbance, the two children, aged nine and 15, left the building and Mrs Franklin escaped.

Mr Balmain said Mr Franklin then barricaded the doors to the property and fire took hold, the inquest heard his body was discovered in an upstairs bedroom.

The inquest was also told the Franklin’s marriage was over after a violent incident earlier in the month and he was afraid he was about to be sent to prison after a conviction for assault.