A STRESSED father was found hanging from his loft, an inquest heard.
John Sanderson, 45, of Westlands Road, Darlington, had complained of stress caused by his job as a contracts manager with York conservatory firm Oakleaf.
The hearing, at Darlington Magistrates' Court, was told that Mr Sanderson had visited his friend, Stephanie Stoddard, last weekend.
The pair had been due to meet for a meal on Monday, but Mr Sanderson failed to turn up.
On Tuesday, she called at his home and let herself in using her own key, and found him hanged.
Mr Sanderson's estranged wife, Sandra, told the hearing that the father-of-two had a lot of stress at work and could be depressed at times.
Darlington and South West Durham Coroner Colin Penna recorded a verdict that Mr Sanderson had taken his own life.
He said: "We will never know what he had in his mind and what caused him to make the fatal decision."
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