But Haywood Academy bosses have denied the claims in the inquest

Maths teacher also said to have been 'put under pressure' at school

Inquest heard he became depressed after split from wife Emma Banner

James Downes found hanged by family at his home in Stoke-on-Trent

James Downes, 36, pictured, was found hanged at home in Stoke-on-Trent after becoming depressed at the breakdown of his marriage, an inquest heard

A Maths teacher hanged himself after celebrating his daughter's 15th birthday due to the breakdown of his marriage and school chiefs putting him under 'pressure', an inquest has heard.

James Downes, 36, was found dead in his home in Stoke-on-Trent by his brother-in-law after spiralling into depression, a coroner was told.

Despite desperate attempts to resuscitate him and calling an ambulance, he was pronounced dead at hospital.

North Staffordshire Coroner's Court heard he killed himself hours after celebrating his eldest daughter's 15th birthday on December 21, 2015.

He began to suffer from depression after his wife Emma Banner left him in May last year.

Giving evidence at Tuesday's hearing, his estranged wife Ms Banner said: 'Sometimes, we were OK and would discuss things.

'Other times, he would be emotional and angry.'

Asked if she thought he would kill himself, Ms Banner told the inquest: 'I didn't believe he would ever do anything like that.'

Months later his school, Haywood Academy, in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, told him he would be moving classrooms and were 'putting pressure' on him.

His new girlfriend, Tracy Sutton, told the hearing: 'We had conversations over a few things, like his marriage. He said it was in the past and we had to look to the future.'

Ms Sutton said he had been signed off work after finding it difficult to go back following the summer holiday.

She added: 'He felt he couldn't handle it. He felt they were putting pressure on him. They had moved his classroom.'

North Staffordshire Coroner's Court was also told Haywood Academy, pictured, where Mr Downes worked as a maths teacher, has been 'putting him under pressure'

On December 9 last year he confided to his mother Diane Toplass that he had tried to gas himself to death in his garage.

Mrs Toplass told the hearing: 'I said, "what stopped you?". He said, "my family".'

On the day of his death Mr Downes's eldest daughter had stayed at his house to celebrate her 15th birthday before leaving for a hair appointment on December 21.

Mrs Toplass added: 'I rang him again after 5.30pm. I kept ringing and ringing and ringing, with no answer.'

She said she alerted her son-in-law David Curl, who went round to the house and let himself in after getting no reply to a knock at the door.

The inquest heard Mr Curl found Mr Downes' body in the bedroom.

The HR director at the school, pictured, denied putting pressure on Mr Downes and said he attributed his 'stress' to 'his wife leaving him'

A post-mortem examination revealed he had died of asphyxia.

Marie Faichney, HR director of Haywood Academy, dismissed claims the school had put pressure on him, saying: 'He attributed the stress to his wife leaving him.'

Recording a conclusion that he committed suicide, North Staffordshire coroner Ian Smith said: 'Was it on the spur of the moment when everyone had left the house? I don't know.

'But he knew it was final. There's no coming back from hanging.'