A MUCH-travelled sports enthusiast killed himself in France after becoming depressed over the breakdown of the relationship with his partner, an inquest heard.

In a statement the mum of 41-year-old Neil Pickstock said Carie Plat, the mother of his two children, had taunted him by saying he should pay 50 per cent of their mortgage.

That was even though they had agreed they could live on her wage as a teacher while he looked after the boys and renovated their home.

The couple had been together for eight years but in October 2017 he was shocked to find texts she had received from a former boyfriend, although she denied she was having an affair.

Mr Pickstock was brought up in Cilcain, Flintshire, where his parents, Graham and Margaret, still live.

He attended Ysgol y Waun, Gwernaffield and Ysgol Maes Garmon in Mold before studying at Leeds University.

He was a keen mountaineer and worked at the Plas y Brenin Mountain Sports Centre in Snowdonia for four years, as well as in Scotland.

His love of the outdoor life took him to places such as India, Bali and Chile before he met Carie Plat in Chamonix, France, where they settled.

Mrs Pickstock told the hearing at Ruthin that although her son was depressed he seemed to put on a brave face when he returned to Cilcain at Christmas 2017, but she was later shocked when she saw a photograph of him because he was so thin.

The and her husband persuaded him to return to Cilcain where they were reassured that he was coping.

He saw a doctor but Mrs Pickstock said: “Carie was making things very difficult and leaving him out of things.”

The alarm was raised when Mr Pickstock failed to pick up the boys from nursery on January 25 last year.

A concerned neighbour in Servoz, Chamonix, called at the house and found him hanging in the cellar.

Asked by the local police if she was surprised by what had happened, Carie Plat replied: “Yes, because he has been better and he loved the children.”

Recording a conclusion of suicide, John Gittins, coroner for North Wales East and Central, said it was clear Mr Pickstock had enjoyed what he did and was highly regarded in his field.