A former pub landlady who died at a Stockport train station took her own life 'in the context of coercive and controlling behaviour', a coroner said.
Jill Parton suffered fatal injuries when she was hit by a freight train in Heaton Chapel in the early hours of June 3 this year. An inquest heard the 46-year-old had been in a relationship in which she was subject to 'controlling and coercive behaviour'.
Shortly before her death that relationship had broken down and Ms Parton was said to have been 'scared to leave the house', the coroner said. The inquest, at Stockport Coroners Court' heard Ms Parton had been in a number of 'difficult relationships' during her life.
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Her daughter Amber Parton told the inquest her mum 'fell for the wrong people all the time'. She added: "She was beautiful. All she wanted was to be loved. She would do anything for anyone. She was just a good person."
Amber said that in the weeks before her death her mum was having panic attacks because of threats that had been made against the both of them. She said: "She was petrified someone would do something to me or her."
As a result of the threats, Amber said her mum told her she 'didn’t want to live any more' but said she didn't have concerns about her harming herself because: "She said she wouldn't leave me."
The inquest heard Ms Parton, from Heaton Chapel, had a history of anxiety and depression. In the months before her death she had been prescribed anti-depressants and referred to mental health services after telling her GP she was having 'thoughts of self-harm'.
An ex-partner, Stuart Sumnall, told the court he and Ms Parton had 'already decided to call it a day' but had spent the afternoon together at Stockport Pride. He told the court that later that day they rowed and she started crying before getting out of his car.
Mr Sumnall, who told the court he had 'trust issues', said he returned home and received a number of messages and phone calls from Ms Parton. In one video call he said he could see overhead power lines and knew she was on the railway line. When the call ended Mr Sumnall said he immediately called police.
A short time later Mr Sumnall said Ms Parton called him back again. He said: "I picked up and the phone just went dead."
Det Insp Chris Aunins told the inquest that following Ms Parton's death police received reports of a 'domestic assault'. The detective said a man, who was not named in court, was arrested and officers 'thoroughly investigated' the claims but no evidence was found and the suspect was released without charge.
The court also heard of a final Facebook post Ms Parton, who was well known from her time as landlady of The Crown pub near Stockport viaduct, made at 2.14am on the morning of her death, which read: "I just wanted to say thank you and much love to all my friends and family who have been there for me throughout the most difficult times of my life."
A post-mortem toxicology showed alcohol in Ms Parton's system and that she had used cocaine some time before her death.
Assistant coroner Anna Morris described Ms Parton as a 'complex and at times vulnerable' woman who had experienced 'periods of poor mental health'. She said Ms Parton had been in a relationship in which she had been subject to 'controlling and coercive behaviour', but that had broken down leaving her 'scared to leave the house'.
The coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide 'in the context coercive and controlling behaviour'.
