A teacher fled police and then killed himself after being arrested at Birkenshaw Middle School, an inquest heard.

Father-of-two Graham Overend's body was found the day after his arrest on a river bank near the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield. He had cuts to his throat, wrists and elbow.

Coroner's officer David Morton read a statement to Huddersfield Coroner's Court yesterday from Herbert Childs, who found Mr Overend at around 6.15pm on Friday, October 12 last year as he was walking his dog.

Mr Childs said: "The dog stopped and I thought there was a fox and looked down the bank. I could see a white shirt with blood on it. I went a little closer. There was the body of a man just above the water level." He alerted a woman nearby who told a colleague to call the police.

Dr Andrew Jackson, a consultant pathologist at Dewsbury District Hospital, said vessels in Mr Overend's brain membrane contained air bubbles and he concluded that death was due to an air embolism. This usually caused a seizure or a stroke-like event, resulting in immediate death.

He said significant blood loss had exacerbated Mr Overend's condition and cuts next to a deep cut suggested the injuries were self-inflicted. There was no evidence of defence injuries.

The inquest heard that Detective Constable John Ionna arrested the 49-year-old teacher on Thursday, October 11, at Birkenshaw Middle School in connection with "serious matters".

DC Ionna said they agreed to let Mr Overend, of Windmill Lane, Birstall, drive to his house and for the police to conduct a search there and then go on to Dewsbury police station. Mr Overend was not seen alive again.

DC Ionna said Mr Overend had not reacted when the police had spoken to him about the matters.

Police believe Mr Overend's injuries were caused by a sharp blade found at the death scene. His wife Pauline said she believed her husband had used the blade to cut carpet for her mother.

Coroner Roger Whittaker said: "Mr Overend had not been seen since the previous morning when he had evaded arrest from the police. It's clear to me that his injuries were self-inflicted."

He recorded a verdict that Mr Overend took his own life.