A MAN who plunged 120ft to his death in a stolen taxi was released from hospital after a suicide attempt only days earlier, it has been revealed.

Stephen Heslop smashed through safety barriers at the top of cliffs in a Nissan Primera he had hijacked at knifepoint just minutes before.

His heartbroken mother Jean Heslop said last night her son had stolen the vehicle from a taxi driver he knew in Coast Road, South Shields, out of sheer desperation, caused by years of battling depression.

She said her 22-year-old son had been released from the Bede Wing at South Tyneside General Hospital on Christmas Day - the day before he went missing.

Mrs Heslop said she knew something was wrong with her son after he was released and raised her concerns with hospital staff.

She said: "The whole family's devastated. We feel lost without him. He hasn't even opened his presents."

Taxi driver Brian Tate, 41, had been parked up at the Marsden Grotto car park, in South Shields, when Mr Heslop held a knife to his throat and stole his car at 7.20pm on Boxing Day.

Mr Tate rang the police to report the robbery, but, six minutes later, witnessed his car plunge over the edge opposite the nearby Marsden Rock, a notorious suicide blackspot.

Mr Heslop was declared dead at the scene.

His mother, speaking at her South Shields home said "Stephen was not a car thief or a carjacker, he was just a desperate young man.

"He has cried for help so many times before. He would have never wanted to hurt he taxi driver, he just wanted the car, and must have thought this was the only way of getting one."

A spokesman for the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Mental Health Trust, said: "We pass on our deepest sympathy to the family of Stephen Heslop. This was a tragic event especially at this time of year.

"Because of a pending inquest we are unable to comment further but urge Stephen's mum to contact us if she has any concerns."

An inquest into Mr Heslop's death has now been opened and adjourned by South Tyneside District Coroner Terence Carney.