A devastated wife woke up to find her husband had died after the couple took a lethal cocktail of drugs together in a suicide pact, an inquest heard.

Melvyn Zabrocki, 63, of Pent Vale Close, Folkestone, died after consuming a mix of drugs and alcohol in a double suicide attempt with his wife of 35 years, Wendy.

The shop owner had struggled with depression for nearly 30 years and told his wife he planned on ending his life, the hearing was told.

The pair left detailed suicide notes to their three adult children, along with an envelope containing keys and cash.

But the next morning – Saturday, November 8, 2014 – Mrs Zabrocki awoke to find her husband dead next to her.

“Wendy remembers being on the bed and going to sleep quite quickly, although she does remember getting up and being sick" - DC Nicky Devine

DC Nicky Devine, who gave evidence at the inquest held at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court, said Mrs Zabrocki had then stumbled down the stairs and called for an ambulance.

DC Devine said: “Melvyn had been saying to Wendy that he wanted to take his own life and he was going to do it with or without her.

“He told her he was going to leave the house and do it on his own if she was not going to do it with him.

“Wendy didn’t want him to be on his own.”

Tina Freedman, central and South East Kent assistant coroner, heard how Mrs Zabrocki decided they would use a cocktail of tablets.

DC Devine continued: “Wendy remembers being on the bed and going to sleep quite quickly, although she does remember getting up and being sick.

“She doesn’t remember anything else apart from waking up in the morning, when she discovered Melvyn who appeared to be deceased. There was no evidence of anyone else’s involvement or other injuries.

“Letters were found addressed to the family, which were farewell suicide notes.”

Miss Freedman read sections of a report from Mr Zabrocki’s GP who said he had struggled with depression for nearly 30 years.

Coroner Tina Freedman said: “It is never possible to know completely what somebody’s intention is but I’m satisfied from the evidence that they wrote careful letters to their family that Mr Zabrocki did intentionally cause his own death.”

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