Elliott Johnson death: Conservative activist had 'prior suicide attempts'
Elliott Johnson death: Coroner concludes he intended to kill himself
(about 3 hours later)
A Conservative activist killed by a train had previously tried to end his life on three separate occasions, an inquest has heard.
A Conservative activist who had complained he had been bullied by fellow Tories took his own life, a coroner has concluded.
Elliott Johnson, 21, of London, died in Sandy last September. He left a letter claiming he had been bullied.
Elliott Johnson, 21, was killed by a train after lying across railway tracks last September, in Bedfordshire.
Coroner Tom Osborne told the inquest in Bedfordshire "he would not investigate the underlying circumstances that led to his death".
Coroner Tom Osborne concluded Mr Johnson, of London, meant to kill himself.
The inquest heard Mr Johnson died of severe traumatic injuries to the head.
"I find that Elliott Johnson... suffered severe injuries and died instantly," he said.
Who was the activist Elliott Johnson?
Paul Abbot, chief executive of Conservative Way Forward (CWF), told the coroner he appointed Mr Johnson as political editor to manage the website in June 2015.
However, Mr Abbott said, by the end of July CWF was in financial difficulties and it was decided to make Elliott Johnson redundant.
On 13 August, Mr Abbott said, he received an email saying Mr Johnson was upset because he had been threatened by then Tory activist Mark Clarke.
Mr Abbott told the inquest on a previous occasion, Mr Clarke - who had led a project to bus young Conservatives to marginal seats called RoadTrip2015 - had threatened a female employee of CWF.
Mr Abbott, who said Mr Johnson had never given him concern about his mental health, alerted other employees that Mark Clarke was potentially dangerous and they should be aware of that, the inquest heard.
Mr Abbott told the inquest he was contacted again by Mr Johnson who told him he was being put under pressure to withdraw his complaint about Mr Clarke.
"I didn't know what to say to him as he seemed really distressed and terrified," said Mr Abbott.
At the time of his death Mr Johnson was a small amount over the drink drive limit, the hearing was told.
The coroner heard that on three previous occasions, in 2011, Mr Johnson had apparently attempted suicide. He was treated by mental health services and his GP.
