A SUCCESSFUL York businessman whose body was found in woodland near his home had spoken to his wife of “self-harm”, it was revealed at the opening of his inquest.

The coroner of York, Donald Coverdale, said dad-of-two Sean Michael Hicks, of Common Road, Dunnington had a history of depression stretching back 15 years.

A provisional cause of death for the 52-year-old was given as a gunshot wound to the chest. Mr Hicks was believed to be the owner of five guns.

Speaking at yesterday’s hearing, Mr Coverdale said: “Mr Hicks had a history of significant depression in 1994 and there had been a previous attempt on his own life.

“He and been diagnosed recently as suffering from continuing depression and he had admitted to his GP that he had thoughts of self-harm.

“On the morning of June 28 he had given similar indications to his wife. Later that morning he was found to have left home and had not returned by the evening of June 29.

“He was known to be the owner of five shotguns and one of them was missing. He was found dead in a wooded area of Sand Hutton on the evening of June 29,” he said.

His mother, Joan Hicks had the grim task of identifying the body of her son.

Mr Coverdale said the provisional findings of a post mortem carried out at York Hospital had given a cause of death as “massive left-sided thoracic trauma”.

The inquest was adjourned while further inquiries into the death are carried out.

North Yorkshire Police said an extensive search was carried out for Mr Hicks in local woodland after his wife Jane had reported him missing.

His body was discovered on a pathway at Sand Hutton, close to his a car, at 10.10pm on Monday.

Mr Hicks had two children, son Liam and daughter Amelia.

Staff at Oxygen, the insurance broking business which Mr Hicks helped to build, said their thoughts and condolences were with his family. A company spokesman said: “Sean played a major role in building the business, which has gained a reputation for its professional staff, the delivery of high standards of service and the quality of its advice.”

Mr Hicks’s funeral is expected to take place at 1.15pm, on July 9, at Dunnington Church.