Man killed himself over smoking ban

A taxman killed himself after the smoking ban left him a virtual recluse, an inquest heard yesterday.

Lawrence Walker, 61, barely went out when cigarettes were barred from his local pub.

Friend Robert Lye said: "He felt insulted to have to stand outside and smoke. We think the ban killed him. He was so depressed about it he hardly went out. It made him very solitary."

Mr Walker, of St Columb, Cornwall, leapt to his death from cliffs at Porth beach, Newquay, in June. Coroner Dr Andrew Cox recorded a verdict of suicide.