By Sam Satchell

sam.satchell@essnmedia.co.uk

A "DISTURBED" man who believed he was being constantly followed killed himself after telling his family somebody wanted him dead.

An inquest into the death of Darrim Daoud was held last Thursday, after the 34-year-old's body was found next to railway tracks near Balcombe Tunnel, Pound Hill on November 15, 2009.

A jury at Horsham Coroner's Court unanimously recorded a verdict of suicide due to a disturbed state of mind.

The court was told Mr Daoud, of Lannercost Road, Pound Hill, had a history of mental illness.

Network Rail engineer Justin Howse, who discovered his body during routine repair work just after 2pm, told the inquest: "I walked in the area between the running rails, and as I approached, I saw something about 100 yards away. My immediate thought was it was a resuscitation dummy.

"I saw jeans and a lumberjack shirt and, as I got closer, it dawned on me that it wasn't a dummy. I was a bit shaken, because I have never seen a dead body."

Half a bottle of whisky was found around 20 metres from Mr Daoud's body. The inquest heard how he was lying on the track when struck by a train.

A post mortem revealed he was decapitated in the incident.

In a statement read on behalf of his family, coroner Bridget Dolan said Mr Daoud was a very sporting man, who was well liked by his many friends.

Ms Dolan added: "In February 2004 he had a psychotic breakdown and was diagnosed as having a mental illness. He told his family he was terrified he was being followed and that he was being followed at all times. He couldn't sleep at night.

"At this time it was the build up to the Iraq war and his family feel that contributed to his fear.

"In November 2008 he expressed a desire to move out into his own home. He said that energy weapons were threatening him. He joined internet forums, where people shared the same beliefs as him.

"Although leading an active social life, he still suffered."

The inquest heard through doctors that Mr Daoud had a history of suicidal thoughts and had previously been on anti-psychotic medicines and anti-depressants.

In January 2008 he was diagnosed completely symptom free, but the inquest heard a relapse would have been likely.