Roderick Watts who was jailed five years ago for throwing a dog from a cliff took his own life by hanging himself by his shoelaces, a coroner has ruled.

The 26-year-old had been 'affected for the rest of his life' by his conviction for the offence against the dog in 2006, the inquest was told.

He had told his mother after the offence that he had been forced to do it by others holding a knife to his throat.

Mr Watts, of Regent Street, Lydney, was found hanged at his home on September 28 last year, the inquest in Cheltenham was told.

Assistant Deputy Gloucestershire Coroner Katy Skerrett heard that he had left a goodbye note to his mother Denise Brown, from Chepstow, on the social networking site Facebook the night before he was found.

And he told other friends they may not see him again.

Mrs Brown told the inquest that Rod, as he was known, was dyslexic and had left school at 16 to work in a local garage.

"But the garage made him redundant and then employed someone else," she said. "He felt bad about this.

"He did some stupid things when he was younger and was involved with the police.

"He was jailed for an offence which affected the whole of the rest of his life when he threw a dog off a cliff.

"But he told me others made him do it by holding a knife at his throat."

She said Rod stayed with her and her husband in Chepstow the weekend before he died and he had been quite positive.

"He wanted to move to Chepstow and try to find a job," she said. "He wanted to get away from the Forest because he was becoming involved in the drink and drugs scene there.

"The last thing he said to me when he got on the train was that he would see me on Friday," she said.

On the Monday, another member of her family told her that there was a message for her on Facebook from Rod saying life was 'sh*t' and he had to go.

"I knew something terrible had happened and we got in the car to drive straight to Lydney."

Mr Watts sent similar messages on Facebook saying life was not worth living and he had to get out.

Police broke into his flat and found him hanging from the shower rail by shoelaces. He had been dead for some time.

Officers found a note left on a sofa.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Mrs Skerrett said: "There was a note and other messages on Facebook and overall the evidence is overwhelming that he did intend to take his life."