Sex case teacher crashed plane

Mr Mepham went missing flying over the Channel in January

A teacher killed himself by crashing his plane into the sea, rather than face a police investigation into alleged sex offences, an inquest has heard.

Gerald Mepham, 55, a teacher at the Priory School in Fratton, Portsmouth, vanished on 10 January, after taking off in his Piper Tomahawk plane from Goodwood Airfield.

He had been arrested on 9 January by police investigating allegations he had invited two boys to pose for indecent photographs.

The inquest recorded a verdict of death by suicide.

It is a human tragedy that his death came about in this way

Roger Stone, coroner

The coroner's court at Chichester heard from Mr Mepham's long-term friend Keith Lamont that the maths and IT teacher became "traumatised and depressed" following his arrest.

Mr Lamont who lived with Mr Mepham in Elm Grove, Barnham, near Chichester, said: "He was very traumatised. It affected him very badly.

"I tried to bring him out of it, but he said he could not face the future. He did say he intended to take his life."

Portsmouth City Council confirmed it had suspended a teacher from the Priory School on 9 January following "serious allegations".

"Very proud"

Mr Lamont said of his friend: "He was concerned that his name and reputation would be ruined and that he would lose his job.

"He could not face that. He was very proud. He could not stand the stigma. He denied the allegations."

Mr Lamont said that the following day, Mr Mepham was desperate to take off from Goodwood airfield before darkness fell.

Mr Mepham took off, telling air traffic controllers he would return by 1600 GMT.

The RAF presented radar recordings showing the plane disappearing from view out to sea.

Mr Mepham's body was found by a dog walker on Pagham beach, near Chichester, on 21 February.

The plane was never recovered.

West Sussex coroner Roger Stone recorded a verdict of suicide, saying: "It is a human tragedy that his death came about in this way."