THE owner of the Molly’s Den emporia has died of a gunshot wound, an inquest heard.

John East-Rigby, 65, died on May 8 at his home at Mockbeggar near Ringwood.

The hearing in Winchester was told that consultant pathologist Dr Sanjay Jogai had conducted a post mortem and said the cause of death was traumatic brain injury and a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Central Hampshire senior coroner Grahame Short adjourned the hearing until September 26.

Mr East-Rigby described as a “serial entrepreneur” in his LinkedIn profile bought the Molly’s Den stores in 2017 and there are currently three in Francis Avenue, Bournemouth, Bridge Street in Christchurch and Easton Lane, Winnall, Winchester.

The stores are a base for traders selling a variety of things including retro furniture, vintage clothing, records, antiques, jewellery, gifts and collectables.

Staff at the Winchester branch expressed their sadness at the news.

Justin Fearn, general manager, said: “It has come as a shock to us, very sad. The staff have been taken aback. He was a good boss who cared about this team. He was always there when you needed him.

“He saw him regularly. He had his vision and we could bounce ideas with him.”

In 2017 Mr East-Rigby, who has named the new company MD Emporium Limited, said: “We are delighted to have acquired the very popular Molly’s Den business protecting 30 full and part-time local jobs.”

Molly’s Den offers retailers the chance to rent units or display cabinets in order to sell a wide range of goods .

The first den opened in Bournemouth in 2012 and since then more than 500 traders have been involved.

It claims to offer affordable rents alongside leisure offers such as cafes and a children’s play area.

The Winchester Molly’s Den reopened in spring 2018.

Under previous ownership, it had been embroiled in a long planning battle with Winchester City Council over its use of another building in Winnall.

Molly’s Den also operate in a large section of Christchurch Emporium at the Avon Works site in Bridge Street. They previously had a site in New Milton, however this closed in 2017 when Mr East-Rugby took over the company.

Mr East-Rigby had a background in the leisure industry having owned discotheques, bowling alleys and snooker halls.