A dentist arrested for drink driving after a traffic accident was later found hanging in a Bradford police cell, an inquest heard today.

Graham Cocking was detained after his Land Rover Discovery hit a lamppost in Queensbury on March 30 last year.

Bradford Coroner's court was told that the 42-year-old of Park Lane, Queensbury had been three-and-a-half times over the legal drink drive limit. A half bottle of whiskey was discovered on the front seat of his damaged car.

The jury was told that the father-of-two had lost his job at the Avondale Dental Practice in Bradford Road, Shipley, the year before after a row with partners over "long leaves of absence".

Speaking at the court today, pathologist Dr Naomi Carter said Mr Cocking was arrested at 5.30pm and detained at Bradford Central police station.

"At 8.55pm he was found hanging from the cell bars" said Dr Carter.

She added that Mr Cocking, who had been receiving treatment for alcohol withdrawal, had made a noose by knotting the legs of his trousers, attaching them around his neck and stepping off a bench in the cell.

Half-hourly checks had been kept on Mr Cocking and he was discovered very shortly after the incident, said Dr Carter. Although he was revived and resuscitated from a number of heart attacks he died the following day at Airedale General Hospital.

Dr Carter said his death was caused by "irreversible brain damage" caused by oxygen starvation brought on by the hanging.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Cocking's wife Rosemary said she realised he had a serious drink problem two years before his death.

He had worked at Shipley's Avondale practice for many years and was made a partner at the firm before losing the job in April 1998.

Mrs Cocking said that her husband had cut his wrists and taken pills on one previous occasion but called this "an idiotic and stupid incident" rather than a real attempt to take his own life.

On the day he was arrested she had heard about a traffic accident in Queensbury on the radio. She said: "Somehow, I just knew it was Graham."

She went to the scene where she found his damaged car and police officers told her of Mr Cocking's arrest.

Although he became argumentative when drinking Mr Cocking had never been violent or abusive and was always very apologetic afterwards said Mrs Cocking.

The hearing continues.

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