A potent form of cannabis known as skunk was today blamed for sending a Marlow man on a downward spiral of mental illness which ended with him hanging himself from a tree.

Christopher Benning, 30, of Berwick Road, was discovered by dog walkers in Hatchet Wood, Frieth, on April 9, 2011.

A verdict of suicide was recorded at an inquest at High Wycombe Law Courts today.

Coroner Richard Hulett said there were 'far too many' cases where young people had suffered years of mental illness after smoking 'stronger forms' of cannabis early in their lives.

"This is not a harmless substance," he said.

After the inquest Mr Benning's sister Juliet echoed the coroner's comments about skunk, calling it a 'major catalyst' in her brother's development of schizophrenia.

But she said her family also had concerns about the antidepressant Citalopram he had been taking close to his death and which they believe may have contributed to his suicide.

She described her brother as a 'troubled soul' but who had a 'wonderfully irreverent' sense of humour.

"He always dreamed about leading a normal life up north where he would not be known and where the stigma of his mental illness would not follow him," she added.

"He was a deeply loved brother and son."