A ONE-time child music prodigy took his own life after fearing he might attack a random stranger, an inquest has heard.

Nicholas Dallimore, aged 46, died after he was hit by an Asda delivery lorry on the M5 northbound near Taunton.

The hearing was told that Mr Dallimore, of Gordons Close, scrambled down a grass verge onto the hard shoulder of the motorway near the Shoreditch overbridge.

He was spotted by several motorists before he looked the lorry driver in the eye and ran into his lorry, the inquest heard.

Mr Dallimore died instantly of multiple injuries in the incident on May 31 last year.

Accident investigator PC Andy Hill said witnesses described seeing Mr Dallimore, of Gordons Close, Taunton,  "cartwheeling through the air" "like a rag doll".

Referring to the driver, PC Hill said: "He couldn't avoid this collision and did all he could in the circumstances."

The inquest was told that Mr Dallimore, who passed Grade 8 classical music at the age of 12 and later became an orchestral musician, had a history of mental illness.

At one stage he told doctors treating him that he needed to go to prison because he had thoughts about buying a knife and hurting random strangers.

At the time of his death he was a patient at Rydon Ward mental health unit, in Cheddon Road, with permission to spend time at his parents' home n day release.

Senior Somerset Coroner Tony Williams recorded a conclusion that Mr Dallimore deliberately took his own life and died from multiple injuries.

Mr Williams added that Mr Dallimore received an appropriate diagnosis and treatment and there was sufficient assessment with regard to him being allowed to continue with time off the ward.

*If you have been affected by this story, contact the local Samaritans at 16 Wood Street, Taunton, phone 01823-288998 or bereaved@mindtws.org.uk, phone 0300-3305463.