Iraq guard shot himself after row

Andrew Seville, 37, from Bridgend, was found by colleagues in September, the Pontypridd inquest was told.

The coroner heard how Mr Seville, a father of three, had previously attempted suicide following an earlier relationship break up.

He had rowed with his new partner over the phone prior to shooting himself. A verdict of suicide was returned.

During the hearing, coroner's officer Stuart Griffiths read a statement from Russell Smith, manager of the security firm employing Mr Seville in southern Iraq.

He said: "We received a telephone call saying Andrew Seville was found lying behind a container and had shot himself in the head with an AK47."

"Prior to his death, he had a huge argument on the telephone with his partner and had stated that £10,000 had been taken from his sole bank account"
Mr Seville's brother, Martin

A statement from Mr Seville's brother, Martin, was also read out. Mr Seville, a serving officer with the army, said his brother had left school at 16 and joined the RAF.

He said: "After about 10-12 years, he left on medical grounds and did several driving jobs and was a prison officer at Parc {prison}.

"He had married at 18 but when he came out of the forces, they divorced."

The court heard how he had remarried but when that relationship broke down he attempted to take his life by overdosing on tablets.

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Following his recovery, he met another woman and started a relationship with her.

He also took a job in security, working in Iraq.

In his statement read out at the inquest, Martin Seville said: "Prior to his death, he had a huge argument on the telephone with his partner and had stated that £10,000 had been taken from his sole bank account.

"He send a text to his mother asking what he should do."

But the inquest heard his mother did not see the text until after his death.

A post-mortem examination showed Mr Seville died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Speaking after the hearing, his brother Martin said: "The verdict was what we were expecting.

"It's been traumatic since his death in September, but we are picking ourselves up now.

"I think he regretted leaving the RAF," he added.

Mr Seville leaves three sons, Gareth aged 17, Thomas, 14, and two-year-old Evan.