A rape victim took her own life by throwing herself beneath the wheels of a train, an inquest jury heard.

Mother-of-five Catherine Weeks walked off the platform at Rayleigh station into the path of an incoming London-bound train on May 17.

Horrified morning commuters watched as Mrs Weeks, of Milton Close, Rayleigh, was hit by a train being driven by Kevin Hodgson.

Mr Hodgson told the inquest Mrs Weeks jumped from the platform as he slowed to enter the station.

The jury at Southend Coroner's Court heard how the dedicated 30-year-old mother had been raped in "a most cruel way" at the age of 14.

She was said to have been haunted by the attack, but had declined the opportunity to bring her attacker to justice.

Family GP Dr Thorpe told the inquest that Mrs Weeks had been prescribed drugs for depression and was having difficulties coping with her children.

Ms Thorpe said in the weeks before her death, the tormented young woman said she could "see, hear and smell her abuser telling her to harm herself".

The jury heard that because of patient confidentiality, Mrs Weeks's husband, a carpenter who worked long hours, had no idea of his wife's deteriorating condition until she injected herself with insulin shortly before her death.

Social worker Michael Manzie said he discussed detaining her under the Mental Health Act, but decided not to because she seemed upbeat and spoke about a future nursing course.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Iman Elhag told the inquest Mrs Weeks had become thin and drawn trying to keep up her high standards as a wife and mother. She said: "Her children were very important to her. We couldn't just go in and take her to hospital."

The jury returned a unanimous verdict of suicide while the balance of mind was disturbed