A HUDDERSFIELD man hanged himself in a secluded wood - hours after appearing in court.

Terry Patrice, 23, was found dead in Grimescar Woods, off Halifax Old Road in Birkby, on March 21 this year.

He was discovered hanging by his neck from a washing line tied to a tree.

Fartown man Stephen Holt made the discovery while walking his girlfriend's dog through the woods.

Unemployed Mr Patrice, of Abbey Road in Fartown, had last been seen alive by his mother on March 19.

He had arrived at her house, threatening to kill himself with a Stanley knife.

She called the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust crisis team - but as she did so, Mr Patrice had disappeared and was not seen alive again.

Earlier that day, he had been granted bail after appearing at Huddersfield Magistrates' Court.

The hearing related to an incident at Tesco supermarket in Huddersfield on March 17.

Mr Patrice was arrested at the supermarket and kept in custody until his court appearance.

Pc Ben Dyer, of Huddersfield police, said Mr Patrice became extremely agitated when handcuffed.

He called Pc Dyer "the devil" and it took several officers and security guards to get him into the police car.

Pc Dyer said he had seen Mr Patrice earlier that day, standing on top of the gas works tower on Leeds Road.

Pc Dyer and colleagues were called to the scene but the man - who he recognised as Mr Patrice - ran off.

Pc Dyer said Mr Patrice calmed down after being taken to Castlegate police station in Huddersfield.

He was assessed the next day - March 18 - by a mental health team, consisting of two doctors and a social worker.

They concluded he did not need treatment.

The inquest heard he remained calm during his court hearing the following day. But later that day, he visited his mother, threatening to kill himself.

Mr Patrice had been in contact with mental health services on and off for around three years.

In November 2004, he was seen by the crisis team at South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust.

He had been agitated, suspicious and held strange beliefs - including that he was being controlled by electrical appliances in his home.

Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded a verdict that Mr Patrice killed himself.