A TALENTED musician killed himself after spiralling into depression, an inquest heard.

Jonathan Howarth, 39, of Brooklands Road, Burnley, lost his confidence after returning home from university, where he studied music for four years.

His mother Barbara told an inquest her son had become depressed after failing to find work and being unable to study for a doctorate.

Mrs Howarth said: "He lost his confidence and would stay in the house. He would stay up all night and in bed all day. He used to go to concerts, but he just became introverted. He was put on Prozac, but he just became like a zombie, then he tried Seroxat, but that made him worse."

Mrs Howarth said her son had tried to commit suicide in 1996 by taking an overdose and again in 2001 when he tried to hang himself with the belt of his dressing gown, but the material snapped.

She said: "We were always on edge after that and made sure the doors were always locked."

In June Mrs Howarth left Jonathan to go on holiday to Scotland and his body was found hanging in an upstairs room by a neighbour on June 18.

A post mortem examination found alcohol and painkillers in his blood, but the cause of death was given as hanging.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said: "He was clearly a very talented young man but unable to cope."

He recorded a verdict that Jonathan took his own life.