A pensioner who suffered from an anxiety disorder causing him to have irrational fears of being sent to jail took his own life, an inquest heard.

Hertfordshire Coroners Court heard Roger Chilcott, 80, of Headstone Lane, Harrow, feared being sent to prison in the week leading up to his death after not reporting cracks in his house to his insurers.

Mr Chilcott, a retired information scientist who continued to work as a part-time gardener, was killed when he was hit by a high-speed train at Watford Junction on November 29.

British Transport Police Sgt Adrian Naylor told the court CCTV showed Mr Chilcott sitting on the edge of a platform shortly before a Virgin Trains Euston to Manchester Piccadilly service was due to pass through the station.

In a statement to the police, train driver Mark Smith described sounding the warning horn when he caught sight of Mr Chilcott a quarter of a mile ahead.

But Mr Chilcott pushed himself into the path of the oncoming train. He died of severe injuries at around 11.15am.

The court heard that a train travelling at 110mph - the speed the train was travelling at - would have a stopping distance of about one mile.

Assistant coroner Edward Solomons said he was satisfied Mr Chilcott’s actions were deliberate and intentional and concluded his death was a suicide at the inquest today.

In early 2014 Mr Chilcott, who served for two years with the Royal Corps of Signals, began suffering mental distress and was prescribed anti-depressants by his GP.

In the week before his death, he declared to his wife Annie he was going to prison for a long time after cracks appeared on the walls of the family home.

Mr Chilcott's son Andrew described his father's fears as irrational and said they were not fully appeased even after reassurance from the insurers and a visit from a builder.

However, Mr Chilcott did not leave a suicide note or give any indication of his intention to end his life.

Mr Solomons said: "It is clear Mr Chilcott was a much-loved family man with considerable skills who unfortunately later in his life was suffering from an anxiety condition. It is my hope his family remember the happier days of his life that he spent with them."

In a note read to the court, Andrew Chilcott said: "He was kind and well-behaved, never making an outburst or shouting in anger."