Last updated at 10:53, Saturday, 29 November 2008

A retired flying instructor from Carlisle hanged himself before a divorce hearing.

Sixty-eight-year-old Frederick Knott, who retired in 2004, had developed a bipolar disorder after retirement, and his marriage broke up under pressures of his illness.

Mr Knott, a father-of-two, hanged himself in the loft at his retirement home in Gloucester earlier this year.

An inquest into his death heard how police were called to the house on July 4 after he had not been seen for several days.

Sergeant Adrian Smith said he went to the top bedroom of the three storey mid-terraced house and saw Mr Knott lying on the floor.

Pathologist Dr David Bryan said the condition of Mr Knott’s body suggested he had been dead for several days, possibly a week, before he was found. The pathologist said he felt confident Mr Knott died some time between May 29 and June 2.

He had a history of depression dating back to 2005 after his retirement and in 2006 was diagnosed with late onset bipolar disorder.

He worked in Carlisle for ‘many years’ as a flying instructor, the inquest was told, after getting his pilot’s licence aged 27.

He and his wife Margaret for married for more than 40 years before a ‘very acrimonious’ break-up.

Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore said that although Mr Knott’s hanging had been a deliberate act he could not be sure, given his mental state, that he intended to kill himself at that time. He recorded an open verdict.

“I think it is not without significance that he was due to be in court for what might have been the final time in relation to his divorce,” he said.

The coroner said there was, however, no direct evidence of suicidal intent by Mr Knott.

First published at 08:59, Saturday, 29 November 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk