An inquest was halted after two members of a jury admitted knowing a West Yorkshire dentist found hanging in a police cell.

Coroner Roger Whittaker decided to discharge the jury and adjourn the hearing into the death of 42-year-old Graham Cocking after hearing legal submissions.

Eight jurors were sworn in at the start of the inquest, which had been expected to last three days.

But after more than two hours of evidence it was revealed that two of them knew Mr Cocking, forcing the coroner to stop the inquest.

He told Mr Cocking's wife, Rosemary: "I'm so sorry that this is necessary but often the interests of justice outweighs your convenience or my convenience.''

Legally, no fewer than seven people could sit on the jury during the inquest which has now been re-listed to begin on April 11.

Mr Cocking was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after his Land Rover Discovery hit a lamppost in Queensbury in March last year, the Bradford inquest was told.

He was then taken to the city's Bridewell police station where tests showed that his breath alcohol reading was three-and-a-half times the legal limit.

The father-of-two was placed in a cell after 6pm and routinely checked every half an hour.

At 8.55pm he was found hanging from the cell bars, said Home Office pathologist Dr Naomi Carter. She told the hearing Mr Cocking had taken off his trousers to form a noose, which was attached to the cell bars.

Mr Cocking's heart stopped five times as efforts were made to resuscitate him but he died the following evening at Airedale General Hospital.

He died from hypoxic brain damage caused by his brain being deprived of oxygen by the effects of hanging.

The jury had been told that Mr Cocking, of Park Lane, Queensbury, Bradford, had been a partner at the Avondale Dental Practice in Bradford Road, Shipley.

But he lost his job in April 1998 after a row with his partners over "long leaves of absence''.

Mr Cocking who suffered from depression and alcohol problems admitted himself to Harrogate Clinic for treatment later that year.

Dr Sasi Bhusan Mahabatra, a consultant psychiatrist and medical director at the clinic, said: "He felt very guilty that he had been becoming a slave to his habit of drinking.''

He added Mr Cocking had never seriously considered that he should end his life.

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