Technician, 30, hanged himself on holiday

An inquest into the death of James Matthew Barnett, 30, heard he had hanged himself in the bedroom of the place in which he was staying in Brittany.

Although he was born in Shoreham, he had been living with his mother in Foxley Lane, Worthing.

He died in Lille Hospital on July 15 last year.

Evidence from his step-father, Shaun Jackaman, revealed he had a history of self-harm from the age of 12, although this waned when he went to university.

The inquest, at Edes House in Chichester, heard Mr Barnett was found hanging by his girlfriend after she had loaded the car for their journey home.

“No note has been found,” said coroner Martin Milward, at Tuesday’s inquest. “It was a deliberate action on his behalf. He killed himself.”