A council officer who took an overdose of anti-depressants was "tremendously upset'' about his future in the job, a Bradford inquest heard.

Ian McGillivray, a 52-year-old father-of-two, died in hospital three months ago after being found unconscious at his home in Silsden, near Keighley.

His widow Judith told an inquest into his death that he was a "wonderful husband and father". In a statement, she said everything had got on top of him.

The hearing was told that Mr McGillivray, a planning enforcement officer with Bradford Council, had been given a written warning a few years earlier, following a complaint.

Then in 1997 he moved from the council's offices in Jacob's Well, Bradford, to the planning office in Keighley. Shortly afterwards, he received a written apology after complaining that managers were closely monitoring his movements.

Last year, he was contacted by the council's internal auditors investigating a complaint from a member of the public.

In a statement read to the inquest, colleague Adrian Braithwaite, said Mr Mcgillivray was off work with stress at the time of his death.

"Ian was challenged by a member of the public while walking his dog on the canal bank,'' he added. "The issue related to a report that he provided.''

In her statement, Mr McGillivray's widow Judith, said she was aware he had difficulties at work but she did not know what they were as he was reluctant to talk about it.

She added: "Everything got on top of him, but I'm sure we could have coped. He had an alcohol problem and was a worrier.

"He was a wonderful husband and father to the girls.''

One Thursday evening in February, she returned home from work and found her husband lying on the bed. She tried to wake him, but realised something was wrong.

She called an ambulance and tried to revive him until it arrived. Mr McGillivray was taken to Airedale General Hospital at Steeton, where he died later the same day.

A post mortem showed death was due to the toxic effects of dothiepin.

Recording a suicide verdict on Mr McGillivray, of Claymore Rise, Silsden, Coroner Roger Whittaker said: "It is clear from the evidence that he had been depressed for some time and had been off work for some time.

"I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that, sadly, he intended the consequences of his actions to end his life."

Alan Mainwaring, Bradford Council's head of transportation and planning, said: "His death was particularly tragic because, contrary to suggestions which were made at the inquest, he was not under investigation by the Council. He was a well-liked colleague who will be missed."

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