A DERANGED dad who gassed himself and his two kids on Fathers Day sent a last chilling message to his estranged wife, saying: "Ive left you a present."

Brian Philcox killed himself and his two kids after taking them on a fun trip to a steam train railway.


The black belt karate fanatic flipped as a bitter custody and property battle with his estranged wife Lyn approached its climax.

After giving children Amy, seven, and three-year-old Owen their railway treat, he drove them to a remote beauty spot in Snowdonia.

He ran a hosepipe from the exhaust of his Land Rover Freelander, started the engine, then climbed into the back seat with the kids as poisonous fumes engulfed them.

A passer-by found their bodies on a road between Maenan and Tal-y-Cafn on Fathers Day.


Rigged

Last night it emerged Philcox phoned Lyn, who had filed for divorce, before the outrage.

He hinted he had rigged up a B**** at the home they once shared.



Tragedy ... police at death scene


And he told her: Ive left you a present. Ill make the paper just you watch.

He also called controversial dads rights group Fathers 4 Justice to ask for advice.

Balding Philcox and Lyn split up 18 months ago.

But he refused to leave their four-bed home in Runcorn, Cheshire forcing the wife to move into her mums with Amy, Owen and her 18-year-old son from a previous relationship, Ryan.

The warring couple were due at a family court yesterday. Judges were expected to boot Philcox out so Lyn could move back in.

But the husband told a horrified neighbour: Id rather burn it down than let that bitch have it.



Clues ... evidence
carried from home

Philcox, a karate instructor involved with several martial arts organisations, picked up Amy and Owen on Friday night for the pre-arranged trip to the steam railway.

Lyn reported the kids missing 24 hours later when Philcox failed to return them.

She also told police about her husbands b**** threat and cops threw a 200m cordon around the disputed property.

B**** disposal experts moved in and found a crude hoax device.

Philcox sent a similar contraption to Ryan, who he often battered when they lived together.

It was found yesterday and detonated in a field as a precaution.

Teddies and flowers were pinned outside the family home last night.

One tearful neighbour claimed Lyn had told cops Philcox was violent and would harm their kids.

But police insisted they had received no reports.

Another neighbour, Tommy Tieray, 44, said: What kind of man would do this just to spite his wife?

Philcox wed Lyn in 2000 after his first wife Janet died of cancer.

He was subsequently named Man of the Year locally over his fund-raising for cancer victims.