A FATHER of three took his life hours after his fiancée discovered he had a secret son, an inquest heard.

Rail depot worker Gavin Briggs was found dead in Little Somborne, near Stockbridge, on July 3 last year.

At an inquest today (Monday, May 17), Winchester Coroner's Court heard that Gavin was reported missing after he failed to return home from work.

The 40-year-old, was found locked in his car two days after and was sadly pronounced dead.  

A toxicology report found no traces of alcohol or drugs in his system and his cause of death was ruled as Carbon monoxide poisoning.

As previously reported Gavin’s father, Ian Briggs, believed the child maintenance services (CMS) had been ‘hounding’ his son for £26,000 which he claimed were based on incorrect figures.

It was also stated in the pre-inquest review last month, that the 40-year-old, from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, was facing pressures from his employment with Hitachi at the North Pole rail depot in London where he was undergoing a probation review.

Despite the previous raised concerns coroner, Jason Pegg told the inquest today, that there was ‘nothing to suggest’ his employment or child maintenance fees caused or contributed towards his death.

Lyndsey Holden, Gavin's fiancée, told the hearing that on July 1, 2020, she discovered documents which showed that Mr Briggs had three children from previous relationships, rather than the two he had previously disclosed to her.

She had then sent him a message saying: “I just found out the last three years of my life have been based on lies.”

Recording a verdict of suicide, Mr Pegg said: “Gavin Briggs believed his home life would crumble around him, because of that he chose to drive to Hampshire to end his life.”

He added: “It seems to me on the evidence before me that Gavin was someone who had been paying money to the CMS for at least three years, and at the time of his death the CMS was not something on his mind.

Mr Pegg also concluded “there was no issue between Gavin Briggs and his employer which contributed towards his death”.

He added: “Gavin Briggs was someone who had his highs and lows and ups and downs, and in 2007 Gavin Briggs had attempted to take his own life after the ending of a relationship.”

After the conclusion of the inquest, Ms Holden said that she believed the coroner’s conclusions were inaccurate and added: “I believe Gavin was predominantly impacted by the long-running issue he had with CMS.”

Mr Briggs senior left the hearing today with his legal representative, suggesting they would be seeking a judicial review after coroner Pegg ruled that examining the CMS claim further was beyond the remit of an inquest.

Paying tribute to her fiancée, Lyndsey Holden described Gavin as ‘fun, caring, loving, and supportive’ adding that he made her laugh every day.