A depressed Oxford policeman jumped to his death from a multi-storey car park on the anniversary of his father's death, an inquest heard.

Pc Vincent Ragan, 40, who had been off work with stress and was being treated for depression at the time of his death, drove to the Templars Square shopping centre in Cowley, Oxford, on July 10 and threw himself off. He died from massive injuries.

Pc Ragan, who was based at St Aldate's police station, had spent his ten-year career working for Thames Valley Police in Oxford.

But an inquest yesterday (Wed) heard that Pc Ragan, of Station Road, Brize Norton, had been depressed over a heart problem and spoke of suicide to a police colleague earlier this year. He was later said to have told the colleague he had changed his mind after hospital staff told him he could regain full health.

Pc Ragan's widow Jane, said her husband spoken to her once about suicide, but had added he was 'only joking'.

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict that Pc Ragan had taken his own life.