The inquest into the death of a rail depot worker has been adjourned following a hearing.

Gavin John Briggs was found dead in Little Somborne near Stockbridge in July 2020, with a lawyer for the family saying that he had “taken his own life".

Child maintenance payments and issues at the 40-year-old’s place of work were said to be “potentially relevant” to the state of the Welwyn Garden City resident’s mind at the time of his death. Following a hearing at Winchester Coroner's Court on Wednesday, January 27, the inquest was adjourned until May 17.

The court heard how Gavin’s body had been found on July 3, with the coroner seeking to establish when, where and how his death occurred.

The coroner noted that “matters relevant to Gavin’s employment” at the North Pole rail depot in London had been raised as “potentially relevant” to his death, as well as child support payments.

Gavin’s father, Ian Briggs, said that procedures had been put in place by the depot’s operators, Hitachi, “to make sure what happened to Gavin doesn’t happen again".

Regarding child maintenance payments, solicitor David Millican said that they were “highly relevant to his state of mind” at the time, claiming that he “simply didn’t owe those arrears".

“The fact that he did not owe them played on his mind,” said Millican.

Gavin's partner, Lynsey Holden, told the hearing “worry and anxiety built and built and built until it got too much for him".

Mr Millican asked Coroner Jason Pegg to consider requesting Gavin’s file from the Child Maintenance Service, but the coroner said that “whether the arrears were properly due or not is not a matter for the inquest".

A further request by the lawyer to see the inquest be held in private was also rebuffed, saying that confidential inquests are rarely held, and generally for reasons of national security.

“Unless you’re saying to me that one of the security services is involved in Gavin’s death,” he said, “it has to be heard in public.”

After requesting statements from the family members present, and all questions having been answered, the coroner adjourned the inquest until May 17 at 10am, when evidence will be presented to the court.