A YOUNG electrician who was upset after being accused of stealing a packet of biscuits was found hanged at a village hall in the Forest of Dean.

Nick Mark, from Broadwell, near Coleford, vehemently denied the allegation but it preyed on his mind and workmates teased him about it, an inquest heard.

After a night out with colleagues in February, the 23-year-old was found hanging by a belt from the stairway of Milkwall Village Hall.

But deputy coroner David Dooley said he could not be sure the former Lakers School pupil had intended to kill himself and recorded an open verdict into his death.

Mr Mark was more than four times over the legal drink drive limit when he died, and this, according to Mr Dooley, clouded the case.

The inquest was told the alleged biscuit stealing incident happened at Mr Mark's workplace 18 months earlier, but he was reminded of it during a night out with a group of workmates from Newcastle on February 29.

Shane Grindle, manager of the Belfry Hotel in Littledean, where the group were drinking, said Mr Mark had appeared upset as his friend teased him about stealing biscuits.

She said: “Nick still did not seem happy about this and I intervened. Then Nick's taxi arrived. He was unsteady on his feet. I would say that on a scale of one to 10, with one being sober and 10 very drunk, he was about eight.”

Taxi driver Mark Jenkins said he asked Mr Mark if he'd had a good night. “He said 'No, not really mate, I haven't,” the driver stated.

“He started talking about the son of his boss at work accusing him of stealing a packet of biscuits. He said he was an electrician on £27,000 a year and why would he steal biscuits.”

Mr Jenkins said he dropped Mr Mark off at the Tufthorn Inn in Milkwall.

Kelly Baynham, a barmaid at the pub, told the inquest she had refused to serve Mr Mark .

She said: “He said he'd been at the Belfry with some Geordie lads and he'd been verbally abused and bullied. His eyes welled up and I could see he was upset.”

Mr Mark's boss, Paul Garland, said he received an emotional call from him at about 1am on March 1.

“He said the Geordie boys said he had been stealing,” said Mr Garland. “I asked him what he was going on about. He said 'We know the truth, don't we?' He was referring to an incident 18 months ago which was a misunderstanding.”

Mr Mark became cross and ended the phone call. A few hours later he was found hanging at the rear of the village hall by resident Janet Edmunds as she walked her dog at 6.25am. Her husband called police.

Susan Mark had told the inquest her son was a conscientious worker who loved his job and he was an “independent and private lad”.

“I never knew him to be depressed but he could get stressed over some things,” she said. “When the police told me of his death I was in disbelief.”

At the time of his death, Alastair Mark paid tribute to his brother, who he lived with in Stafford Close.

He said: “All we know is that Nick is no longer with us and he will be sorely missed.”

He said his brother had dreamed of being an electrician from an early age and was very proud of his job.