A MAN accidentally hanged himself with his belt following a violent argument with his girlfriend over a sandwich, an inquest heard.

Unemployed John Anderson, 29, of Tan Hill, Hipperholme, hanged himself from the bannister of his girlfriend Claire Siddle’s home.

The Calderdale inquest heard how the incident happened a few minutes after the couple had argued about making a sandwich at Miss Siddle’s Ovenden home on September 21 last year.

During the row, Philippine-born Mr Anderson, who had a history of domestic violence and had spent time in prison, allegedly punched Ms Siddle in the face and kicked her in the stomach.

After being told their relationship was over, Mr Anderson took off his green belt, tied it to the bannister and strangled himself as Ms Siddle’s children slept upstairs.

Pc Oliver Hott told the inquest he had been first on the scene at about 10.50pm and had seen Mr Anderson slumped at the top of the stairs with the belt around his neck.

Pc Hott said the noose was so tight he could not untie it and had to cut it off using his penknife.

Officers tried resuscitating Mr Anderson but he died at the scene.

Pc Simon Jenkinson said Ms Siddle’s neighbour had confirmed she had come running out of the house shouting for help following the violent row.

But coroner Roger Whittaker said evidence from Ms Siddle stating that Mr Anderson had been at the bottom of the stairs when she ran for help had cast doubt over whether he had meant to kill himself.

Mr Whittaker said: “He started at the bottom and then went up to the top.

“It seems to me that in attempting to cause his partner to change her mind about leaving him, he accidentally slumped into the noose and it was irreversible.”

Mr Whittaker recorded a verdict of accidental hanging.