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girl killed himself – moments after sending the child a text message saying “I love you”.
Neil Wilkes (29) took his life after a police inquiry into allegations of inappropriate conduct sent him spiralling into depression.
Derbyshire Coroner’s court heard that Wilkes, who used to teach at Pinfold Primary School in Hyde, Cheshire, was suspended from work after it was alleged he had an inappropriate relationship with a young girl he was tutoring privately.
And last October, Mr Wilkes, who lived with his parents, drove to a beauty spot in Derbyshire to kill himself – after sending a text message to the girl saying: “I love you and always will”.
His burned body was discovered on a grass verge near the Blue John Mines in Castleton, Derbyshire, by two men out walking.
An inquest into his death last week heard that Mr Wilkes, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, had become close with the girl’s family, and often accompanied them on days out, before he was accused of having an “inappropriate” relationship with the girl, from Oldham.
Although the probe never resulted in court action, Mr Wilkes was later convicted of harassing the child’s family.
His father, Ian, told the court that his son had been suspended from work and bailed to keep away from the girl during the investigation.
He was devastated when the family blanked him after the investigation – and tried to overdose on painkillers.
His psychologist, Dr Clare Blackburn, told the inquest that three days before his death, on October 20, he had told her he hoped to return to teaching after avoiding being put on the Sex Offenders’ Register.
Deputy North Derbyshire Coroner Nigel Anderson said by the time the proceedings were over, Mr Wilkes was “reaching the end and had simply had enough”.
“There is a clear trigger which led to his depression and ultimately his death.”
He recorded a verdict that Wilkes took his own life. -Daily Mail.