Love rejection led to fireball suicide

A verdict of suicide was returned on 37-year-old Sainsbury s duty manager John Wicks at an inquest in Hastings on Wednesday.

He died in a horrific fireball watched by shocked onlookers after setting himself alight in his car.

The inquest heard Mr Wicks, of Preston Road, Sidley, had to be formally identified by dental records. Coroner Alan Craze was told Mr Wicks was separated from his wife Jane but would still see her and talk to her about his current on-off relationship.

Mr Wicks had been seeing a woman who was also involved with his brother-in-law Malcolm Ridgeway.

Giving evidence at the inquest, Mrs Wicks said when the woman went away on holiday for a fortnight in May, Mr Wicks decided to end his affair with her.

He told his wife he was going to see the woman when she returned to the country, but when he did so, instead of ending their relationship he asked her to marry him.

The inquest heard Mr Wicks had written four notes, for his mother, his children, his wife and the other woman.

The coroner called the incident "a very tragic case" and said: "All four of the notes give me a very clear indication that at the time he wrote them he did intend to take his life."