A MAN killed himself after he had been charged with a string of sexual and indecency offences, an inquest ruled.

Malcolm Chandler, 56, was due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on June 16, charged with 21 offences, including raping a ten-year-old girl, indecent assault and gross indecency.

The offences allegedly happened between July 1993 and March 2013.

The body of Chandler, of Beach Road, Clacton, was found in a wooded area behind Long Meadows Community Hall, in Dovercourt on January 30.

The inquest had been adjourned so an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation could be carried out to make sure there was no police action that may have led to his death.

However, the IPCC was satisfied there was nothing at all to indicate this had been the case.

At the inquest at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court on Friday, coroner Eleanor McGann recorded a verdict that Chandler had deliberately taken his own life.

The court heard Chandler had been diagnosed with depression and anxiety.

He had previously tried to take his own life by taking overdoses on several occasions.

Chandler had spoken to his wife and son on January 29 and both described his manner as normal.

But the next day, he was found hanged from a tree in a small wooded area.

A note found in his car parked nearby read: “Maybe this is for the best.”

It also gave details about funeral arrangements and how he wanted to be cremated.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as pressure on the neck. A toxicology report found no unusual drugs in his system.

Mrs McGann said: “The fact he was charged with these serious offences gave him a motive to take his own life.

“I am sure Chandler died as the result of a deliberate act and intended to take his own life.”