A YOUNG mum broke down in tears as she told an inquest how she found her former partner hanging from stairs in what had been their home.

Beverley Hughes had been living with Mark Dwyer for three years until their relationship soured and she left.

Mr Dwyer's brother-in-law, Jason Richard Foster, said his wife told him on Friday, October 10, that Miss Hughes had left.

That night Mr Foster took Mr Dwyer, 26, to see Miss Hughes and left him at the Commercial pub in Barnoldswick, joining him later for a drink.

Mr Foster said: "When we left the pub he didn't seem distressed or I would not have left him." He went to Mr Dwyer's house on John Street, Barnoldswick, on Saturday at 11am but there was no reply. The doors were locked and the curtains drawn.

Miss Hughes, who now lives with her parents in Rotherham, said Mr Dwyer had supported her and her daughter.

She was in tears as she confirmed to East Lancashire coroner David Smith what she found in the house.

When Mr Dwyer visited her on the Friday he had asked her to return the key to the house they had shared. She went there at 1.30pm on Saturday and found him hanging from the stairs.

Neighbour Mr Zygmut Zborowaki said he heard a scream and Miss Hughes asked him to call the police.

He cut the towelling rope suspending Mr Dwyer and lowered him to the ground.

He said: "I thought I might be able to save him but when I touched him he was cold."

Pathologist Dr Zafar Qureshi said the cause of death was hanging.

Mr Smith told Miss Hughes: "Obviously there had been disagreements and as a result you separated. For some reason it affected Mr Dwyer more than anyone thought.

"He was someone who kept his feelings very much bottled up and thought this was the only way out. It isn't and leaves everyone feeling very bad.

"It is something very difficult. It may not have happened had you not separated but I don't think anyone can take the whole blame.

"He obviously took drastic action."

Mr Smith recorded a verdict that Mr Dwyer killed himself while depressed.

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