The family of a father-of-three who killed himself in Bradford woodland say they are pleased West Yorkshire Police has admitted failures were made after he was reported missing.

A jury returned a conclusion of suicide at the culmination of Colin Harding’s inquest at Bradford Crown Court, and all parties agreed on two admitted failures by the force.

The inquest heard from a number of witnesses, including current and former West Yorkshire Police officers and Mr Harding’s wife, Emma, who reported him missing on July 31, 2015, after he sent her text messages suggesting he wanted to die.

Mr Harding, 39, had moved out of the family home, in Gwynne Avenue, Thornbury, two months previously after having an affair with another woman.

However, he was still in contact with his wife and sent her a message on July 31 saying “Life is a rollercoaster and it’s time I got off. Bye, babe.”

He switched his phone off and Mrs Harding reported him missing to police before driving around parts of Bradford she knew her husband visited.

At lunchtime the following day, his car was spotted by an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera and he was stopped by two Greater Manchester Police officers.

They informed West Yorkshire Police they had found Mr Harding and asked the neighbouring force what they would like to do, but did not hear anything for 58 minutes and eventually let him go because his demeanour did not concern them.

Coroner Philip Holden said this was the first admitted failure as West Yorkshire Police should have responded to the other officers earlier.

The court also heard the police’s missing person log was transferred between control rooms in Leeds and Bradford numerous times, and a 999 call handler told the coroner she should have graded a phone call from Mrs Harding as an emergency when she was told Mr Harding had claimed to have taken 100 pills.

The second admitted failure related to a civilian call dispatcher incorrectly closing the missing person log.

Frederick Kirk admitted during the inquest he did not realise, or check, that Mr Harding had been found at lunchtime on August 1 when his wife reported him missing again at 5pm after he told his sister-in-law he had taken 100 pills and they had not worked.

Mr Kirk told the hearing he had a brief conversation with his supervisor and there was a “miscommunication” about him being found, which saw the log closed for 90 minutes.

The two admitted failures were agreed by West Yorkshire Police and the family’s legal team before they were outlined to the jury by the coroner. They were not challenged and were put to the jury before they retired to consider the conclusion.

Mr Harding never revealed where he was and ignored pleas to come home from both his wife and lover.

In a series of messages, Mr Harding told his wife: “I can’t come back from this. I’ve lost all my energy. I’m past help. I can’t see a way out.”

In total the family contacted police eight times and showed officers the messages, but those who visited the family, and their superiors, did not believe Mr Harding was a ‘high risk’ missing person.

A statement released on behalf of the family said: “Having sat in court for six days hearing evidence from a variety of police constables, Inspectors, and civilian call handlers and dispatchers, we are pleased that West Yorkshire Police have recognised that there were a number of failings in how they dealt with Colin as a missing person.”

But the statement said the family was “disappointed” that “other failings” had not been recognised nor acknowledged, including what it described as the ‘ping ponging’ of logs between Bradford and Leeds divisions.

Gemma Vine of Minton Morrill Solicitors, which represented the family in court, added: “This is a deeply tragic case where there were potentially missed opportunities for Mr Harding to be returned safely to his family. There were clear failures in staff following procedures and protocols that were in place.”

Returning a narrative conclusion, the jury agreed Mr Harding was found hanging on August 2 at 9am by a runner.

The location of the discovery was Wood Nook, Denholme.

Mr Holden added: “It’s a very sad case of a 39-year-old man who should not have been taken at that age.

“One of the ironies of this case is that Mr Harding thought he had nothing to live for when he had a very loving family. If it’s any consolation, I don’t think Mrs Harding could have done anymore.”

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “We acknowledge the findings of the jury in this case and our thoughts remain with Mr Harding’s family and friends.”