A recovering cannabis addict committed suicide after suffering from depression for several months.

Paul Ellis, 28, of Rose Stock Lane, Colney Heath, St Albans, was found hanging in the garden of his Colney Heath home by his step sister on May 10.

At his inquest at Hertfordshire Coroner’s Court today, Coroner Geoffrey Sullivan concluded Mr Ellis had voluntarily taken his own life.

Mr Ellis, who worked as car dealership service advisor, had a cannabis addiction but in 2015 he received support from Spectrum, Hertfordshire’s alcohol and drug rehabilitation service.

Kerry Drew, his partner, provided a statement and said Mr Ellis had been very depressed recently and said to her he wanted to kill himself and she had to help him.

Miss Drew became suspicious of Mr Ellis’ constant texting and believed he was messaging to purchase drugs.

The night before Mr Ellis was found he wanted to spend some time with her but she said no. Mr Ellis went downstairs and Miss Drew messaged him asking what was going on.

Mr Ellis replied in the early hours of May 10 saying he loved all his family so much. This was the last text message he sent her.

His step-sister Bryony Simpson-Everett, who lives in a cabin in the back of their garden in Colney Heath, woke up around 3am on May 10.

She made her way to the main house to use the toilet when she saw a figure by the swing set in the garden.

In a statement read out by the coroner, she said: “When I saw the figure I thought it was my partner playing with the dog but then realised they were not moving.

“I shouted to them but had no response. I went into the main house and started looking for a phone. I was not sure if I should have woken the rest of the family up.

“I told them I had seen someone kneeling underneath the swing and it looked like they were not moving.”

Miss Simpson-Everett and her family went back outside and saw Mr Ellis underneath the swing. CPR was given to Mr Ellis by his step-father.

PC Ben McGregor, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, was called to the house at around 3.30am. An empty bottle of vodka was found underneath a trampoline next to the swings.

Despite the vodka bottle being found, a toxicology report revealed the amount of alcohol in Mr Ellis’ system was below the drink drive limit.

Traces of cocaine were was also discovered in the toxicology report but it was not enough to warrant it being a contributory factor.

Mr Sullivan paid his condolences to the family.