A man who spent time in prison for killing his cheating wife hanged himself after his business spiralled into debt, an inquest was told.

Robin Mellentin, 55, was found hanging at his flat in Henshaw Lane, Yeadon, in October 2001.

Mr Mellentin was found guilty of the manslaughter of his wife, Christine, in 1984, and sent to prison for five years. He strangled her to death after learning of her affairs with other men.

At that time, he had tried to kill himself by taking an overdose and slashing his wrists, but doctors had revived him.

Leeds Coroner's Court heard yesterday how police officers forced the door of his flat open after being called by Mr Mellentin's landlady, Mary Hudson, who had received complaints from other tenants about a bad smell coming from the apartment.

The officers found the decomposing body of Mr Mellentin, a plumber, which had been hanging undisturbed for more than a week before its discovery.

Mrs Hudson said in a statement read out at the inquest that he had moved to the flat three or four weeks before his death and had been struggling to pay his rent.

Pauline Mcghee, Mr Mellentin's cousin, said in a statement also read out at the inquest that he had been involved in an accident in the late 1990s which had left him hospitalised and unable to work. After his recovery, he had had his van and plumbing equipment stolen, leaving him short of cash and living with friends before he moved into a flat in Guiseley.

Mrs Mcghee said Mr Mellentin had lived in the Rawdon, Guiseley and Yeadon areas since meeting his wife in the 1960s and marrying her in the late 1970s.

After his release from prison in Durham, Mr Mellentin lived with his mother in Guiseley until her death in 1996.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Coroner David Hinchliff said his death had been a consequence of his financial problems.

"This man had financial problems and debt," Mr Hinchliff said.

"He may well have been broken by his personal problems and he owed money on his flat in Guiseley."