A MUCH-loved headteacher took his own life, an inquest has ruled.

Owain Richards, formerly of West Bergholt, but living in Ipswich at the time of his death, killed himself on Sunday, February 7.

An inquest into the death of the 42-year-old former deputy headteacher at Great Bentley Primary School ruled he had intended to take his own life.

Lisa Duff-Godfrey, Mr Richards’ partner, found the 42-year-old hanged in the home they shared at Saffron Road, Ipswich.

An autopsy found the immediate cause of death was strangulation, although toxicology tests showed he had taken a large amount of paracetamol, which would have been likely to have proved fatal.

Coroner Peter Dean said testimonies from Mr Richards’ partner and family showed he had been going through a lot of stress.

Mr Richards had been going through a divorce with his wife Angela, who still lives in West Bergholt, and had also suffered difficulties in his relationship with partner Lisa Duff-Godfrey.

Mr Dean also considered Mr Richards’ suicide letter, which was not read out in court.

He said: “It is a private letter, but it is clear that he understood and intended the sad outcome of his actions.”

Mr Richards was headteacher at Cliff Lane Primary School, in Ipswich, where he met partner Lisa, and had previously been deputy headteacher at Great Bentley Primary.

His older brother Andy Richards was at the inquest yesterday, accompanied by Lisa Duff-Godfrey, who sobbed throughout the hearing.

Andy, 45, paid tribute to his brother as “the life and soul of the party”. He said: “Owain’s sudden and tragic death has been a complete shock.

“We are still struggling to come to terms with it.

“He was much loved and will be greatly missed by the whole family, friends and work colleagues.

“He was absolutely full of energy, so much that he could not sit still. It is just incredibly sad.

“So many people loved, respected him and cared for him.”

Owain had been suffering from depression, the pressures of work and from spending less time with his 12-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son after the split from his wife.