A MARRIED couple hanged themselves side by side in their home days before the husband was due to be sentenced for extreme child pornography charges, an inquest heard.

The bodies of Robert and Ellen Griffiths, both 36, were found by police at their home in Shawbury Avenue, Kingsway, Quedgeley on July 17.

An inquest was held at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court last Tuesday, October 21.

When police broke into the house, which was locked with the curtains drawn, they came across a note in the hallway which read: ‘Sorry to whoever finds us! Please don’t let it get you down. This is something we had to do. Do not resuscitate. We are upstairs. No family please.’

On the floor outside the bedroom was another note which read: ‘ No family in here please.’

A third note read: ‘Please make sure our parents get our letters.’

A statement from a police officer first on the scene read: “It was 22:32 hours and the house was in darkness with all curtains and blinds drawn front and rear.

“Neighbours said they had not seen the couple for six days and we knocked on all the doors.

“Just after midnight we forced entry and found the bodies.”

Senior coroner Katy Skerrett said it was clear they had intended to take their own lives.

“They left notes to ensure that family members did not witness what they did and possessions for family members and wrote letters of regret,” she said.

“Both of them were worried and Robert regretted past actions.

“It is clear they decided to do it because they could not bear to live apart – therefore I conclude that these two people took their own lives.”

Two days before a warrant had been issued for Robert’s arrest when he failed to attend Gloucester Crown Court to be sentenced.

He had previously pleaded guilty at a magistrates court hearing to 15 charges of possessing indecent images of children and three charges of possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals.

The inquest heard Ellen had recently had visited her GP with stress and was on medication.

“There were problems involving her marriage, financesand work and she had not been sleeping,” said Ms Skerrett.

A verdict of suicide was recorded in both cases.