An 83-year-old former United Nations translator from Bungay left a note for the postman warning that he had taken his own life, an inquest has heard.

Peter Stabler, of Nethergate Street, stuck the note on his front door, asking that the police were called and giving details of how they could get a spare key to enter his home, an inquest in Ipswich heard yesterday.

After postman James Whitely called police, an officer forced their way into the house and found Mr Stabler unresponsive in the bathroom.

The inquest Mr Stabler’s health had been deteriorating having been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and bronchial pneumonia and was having difficulty breathing.

When he was found, another note was discovered on the kitchen table, apologising for the ‘unpleasant nature of the incident’.

Senior Suffolk coroner Nigel Parsely gave the cause of death as incised wounds to wrists and bronchial pneumonia.

A statement from Mr Stabler’s brother John, read aloud during the inquest, described him as a highly intelligent man who had a career translating for the United Nations, a job that had allowed him to work in Geneva, New York and Vienna.

A talented pianist with a love of classical music, Mr Stabler said his borther was fluent in many languages including French, Spanish, German and Russian.

He said his brother was ‘stuck in the 1950s’ - having never used a cash machine or owned a TV or dishwasher.

Concluding the inquest, Mr Parsley said it was clear to him that Mr Stabler had intended to take his own life.

“I will conclude Peter Stabler died as a result of suicide,” he said.