A popular council worker threw himself in front of a train after receiving a threatening spam email, an inquest was told.

Neil Skipper, 30, died from multiple injuries after he was hit by a high speed train at Putney station on June 1 last year.

Dr William Dolman reached an open verdict at Westminster Coroners Court after ruling out suicide.

Mr Skipper, from Thornton Heath, told his parents on June 1 he was popping out and would be back for tea but the Croydon Council worker did not return.

He left home at 6.30pm and travelled on the bus, train and tube before arriving at Putney Station at about 9.30pm.

His parents had become worried for their son and searched his room. They found a note by his computer which said "sorry mum and dad."

When they turned on his computer they found a rogue, threatening email sent to Mr Skipper from a spam address. Dr Dolman said the matter was being investigated further by police.

The contents of the email were not read out at the inquest.

The former Stanley Tech and Coulsdon College pupil then waited on the platform before launching himself in front of a Waterloo bound train.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The inquest heard Mr Skipper, a Fulham season ticket holder, had no history of mental illness but was an intelligent and logical thinker.

His GP Dr Simon Ramsbotham, said he had obsessive interests in trains and dinosaurs which might point to asperger syndrome.

He said it would explain his drastic reaction to what he saw on his computer.

Last year his dad Philip Skipper said his son would always be loved and always be missed.

In a statement read to the court by Dr Dolman, he said: "Neil was a clever person and after studying for a journalism degree he started working for Croydon Council in 2007 where he had many friends.

"He was family orientated and was working with his grand dad to write memoirs from his experiences in the war.

"He said he would be back in time for tea but he did not return."