THE BODY of a father-of-two who held-up police during an eight-hour armed siege in 2001 has been found hanging in a Trowbridge flat.

David Barker was found hanging in the lounge of his ground-floor Manor Road flat in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police and paramedics were called to the block of flats just before 12.30am after Mr Barker's girlfriend made the grim discovery.

The 37-year-old was jailed for two years in November 2001 after an armed siege at his former home in Methuen Way, Corsham, but moved to the Studley Green estate on early release from prison.

During the siege in September 2001 Mr Barker pointed an air rifle fitted with a telescopic lens at a police inspector and threatened to 'drill him'.

A .22 air rifle, a .22 gas-operated rifle, a 12-inch sheath knife and ammunition were among the weapons found at his home.

Police inspector Stacey Marks told how he feared for his life after being threatened twice with the rifle by a 'cool and calm' Mr Barker.

Residents in the Trowbridge block of flats said they were unaware of their neighbour's criminal past and described him as 'quiet and normal'.

Christine Smith, 57, who lives on the third floor, said she saw Mr Barker's dad visiting the flat just days after his son's death.

She said: "His dad came round and told me David killed himself. It is an awful thing to happen.

"I heard his partner found him in the front room. His father said he had a lot of problems.

"To look at him you would not have noticed any problems. He was very quiet and was no trouble at all.

"I sometimes saw what must have been his son at the flat and he would play in the street."

Another neighbour said she heard banging noises in the early hours of Monday morning around the time Mr Barker's body was discovered.

At the time of the court case in November 2001, Mr Barker's defence solicitor Alex Daymond said his

client had an incurable

personality disorder and a history of self-harm.

The siege started when Mr Barker's partner Helen Jones returned to their home following a row to collect her belongings. Telling friends he was going to rip out a gas pipe and blow up the house, Mr Barker went onto goad police officers with loaded guns.

Tactical firearm officers were deployed to the quiet Corsham street and neighbours were evacuated.

The siege ended when Barker laid down his rifle and gave himself up voluntarily to waiting officers.

Mr Daymond described to Swindon Crown Court how the father-of-two was on a self-harming mission, turning to drink and drugs in the days before the armed stand-off.

The solicitor said the death of Mr Barker's mother in 1998 had been a key factor in his fragile mental state.

An inquest into Mr Barker's death was opened and adjourned by deputy Wiltshire coroner Nigel Brookes at Salisbury on Tuesday.