A VERDICT of suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed was returned by a Salisbury inquest jury on Friday on a mentally ill man who set fire to his petrol-drenched body at a city filling station.

Jason Delstanche (37), who had been living rough in the city before being admitted to the Old Manor psychiatric hospital, died hours later at Salisbury District Hospital.

During a three-day inquest, a jury listened to evidence telling how horrified staff and customers saw Mr Delstanche pour petrol over himself and light it.

His father, Victor Delstanche, told the jury that his son had never spoken of wanting to take his own life.

But consultant psychiatrist Dr Guy Powell said Jason Delstanche had suffered delusions and felt microchips had been placed in his head and were being used by a master race.

In a statement to the inquest, Mr Delstanche senior, said his son was not trying to harm himself but thought he could burn the spirits or demons out of his body.

The inquest heard that Jason Delstanche, who had a degree in mechanical engineering and had worked at the National Physics Laboratory, in Teddington, had been deeply disturbed by delusions and was unco-operative over treatment.

While on brief unescorted leave from the Old Manor (now called Fountain Way) in May 2003, he had bought petrol at a filling station in Wilton Road, poured it over himself and set himself alight.

People nearby rushed to his aid, but he died from cardio-respiratory failure due to extensive burns and paranoid psychotic illness.

The inquest was told that Old Manor staff felt there was no reason why Mr Delstanche, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, should not go on leave that day.

Returning their suicide verdict, the jury said they thought the decision to allow Mr Delstanche unescorted leave was reasonable, based on procedures at the time.

Speaking afterwards, Jason Delstanche's father said: "My family are content that the jury have made their decisions."