Man had mental health problems before his death Body found on cycle path by passer-by
A YOUNG man was battling mental health issues before his death, an inquest has heard.
The body of Nicholas Whiteside, of Bridgend, was found by a passer-by on July 1, last year.
A man found his body on the cycle path between Sarn and Penyfai, which lies near the A4063.
On Thursday, April 19, Cardiff Coroner’s Court heard Mr Whiteside, 24, suffered various mental health problems during his life.
Coroner Andrew Barkley read a statement on behalf of his father, who was not named in court.
The statement read: “The family are originally from Maesteg. I brought up the children with the help of my mother and my family.
“He was young when he began to have problems with children in school because he was motherless.
“When he moved from primary to secondary school the problems did not go away. He was expelled because he was disruptive.”
The court heard that despite support from the family and the school, things got worse for Mr Whiteside.
He got into trouble with the police and started using cannabis.
The statement read: “At the age of 14 I couldn’t cope with his behaviour, and he went to live with his grandmother. He did not stay there long.
“He ended up in the Newport area and later moved to a property on Park Street in Bridgend.”
According to his medical records, Mr Whiteside was found to have symptoms of paranoid schizo-