Teacher took life after police probe

A TEACHER drove to a Derbyshire beauty spot and set himself on fire after a police probe sent him spiralling into depression, an inquest heard.

Neil Wilkes (29) had been investigated following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with an eight-year-old Oldham girl he was tutoring privately.

The probe did not result in court action,though he was subsequently convicted of harassing the girl’s family.

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”.

The inquest heard that a man heading for a walk parked near Castleton’s Blue John Mine on October 23 and was walking to Mam Tor with his brother when he found the body on a verge near Mam Farm. A petrol can and matches were near by.

Mr Wilkes had suffered up to 90 per cent burns after dousing himself with fuel and setting it alight. He died from extensive burns.

His father, Ian Wilkes, told the Chesterfield inquest that his son had worked in primary schools around Greater Manchester. He said his son had become “something of a father figure” in the Oldham girl’s family. He went on outings with them and seemed to be the “family dogsbody”. But he was bailed to keep away from them and suspended from work during the police investigation.

Though this ended without charges, he was upset when the family didn’t want to resume contact. He later took an overdose of painkillers and was treated by a mental health crisis team.

A psychologist, who last saw him on October 20, said he denied any intent to take his life and hoped to return to teaching.”

On October 22 Mr Wilkes told his parents he was going for a drive to clear his head. He sent a text to the to the girl at the centre of the investigation. His body was found next morning.

The coroner said: “There is a clear trigger which led to his depression and ultimately his death. Though the investigation concluded he had not behaved inappropriately, by then the damage had been done.”

The coroner recorded that Mr Wilkes took his own life.