New dad took his own life, inquest told (From Oxford Mail)

New dad took his own life, inquest told

1:20pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Damian Fantato, covering Summertown, Jericho and North Oxford. Call me on 01865 425429

A MAN whose body was found behind West Oxford Community Centre took his own life, an inquest found.

James Rowland, 34, hanged himself from a gate behind the Botley Road centre in November after battling with depression, a coroner said.

The software engineer at Diamond Light Source in Harwell had recently become a father but also visited his GP to arrange therapy.

In a statement, wife Katharine Sykes – who gave birth in April 2011 – said he was a “good father”.

But the research fellow at St Edmund Hall found son Henry’s crying “difficult” because he was concerned he was “doing something wrong”, she said.

Mrs Sykes said his depression became a problem again in November and he discussed it with GP Dr Tom Nichols.

But Dr Nichols said he did not want to start taking anti-depressants and wanted therapy instead.

Mr Rowland had been sleeping in a separate room from his wife to get some rest.

He was missing when she awoke on Sunday, November 25. She went to look for him and called the police at about 10am when he had not returned.

A member of the public, Anthony Evans, found his body when walking to the play area near the community centre with his wife and two children.

Oxfordshire Coroner Peter Clark, ruling Mr Rowland took his own life, said: “I am satisfied that he acted deliberately in the actions that he took.

“There was evidence of an extensive search on a number of websites into methods for taking his own life and the method he used closely followed the advice.”

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