An 81-year-old man took his own life after his release from prison for child pornography offences.

Patrick O’Brien, of Bonds Meadow, Oulton Broad, killed himself at his home five months after the death of his wife Brenda – and more than six months after his latest conviction for child pornography offences.

An inquest yesterday in Lowestoft heard the body of Mr O’Brien, who was a retired civil fabricator, was found at his home on August 13 last year.His body was discovered by a police officer who was attempting to make contact with him.

Suffolk coroner Dr Peter Dean said: “We hear he was found hanging at the home address. It is clear from the circumstance and notes that Mr O’Brien understood and intended the consequences of his action.”

Dr Dean recorded a verdict that Mr O’Brien had killed himself.

Although not mentioned at the inquest Mr O’ Brien had returned to his home after his release from a six month prison sentence for his second child pornography conviction.

At the time he was made subject of a sexual offences prevention order restricting his use of computer equipment.

Officers then found Mr O’Brien had set up an MSN messaging account in breach of the prevention order and stored a number of images.

Last February he was jailed for six months after admitting two offences of making indecent images of children, two offences of possessing indecent images, one offence of possessing prohibited images and attempted breach of a sexual offences prevention order. Mr O’Brien had pleaded guilty in 2007 to making and possessing indecent images of children.

Last June an inquest heard his wife’s body was discovered on March 6 last year after a neighbour contacted police when she received no answer while calling at the O’Briens’ home.

At the end of that hearing the coroner recorded a narrative finding which said Mrs O’Brien, 72 and a retired school dinner lady, had died from a combination of hypoglycemic coma due to diabetes, and scalding while in the bath.