A YOUNG man was found hanged after his relationship with his girlfriend of five years broke down, an inquest heard.

And after hearing how Aaron Singleton’s relationship had soured, deputy coroner Alan Walsh criticised text messages, emails and social networking sites like Facebook.

Bolton Coroner’s Court heard yesterday how the 21- year-old was struggling to cope with the break-up and had low self-esteem.

He and his former girlfriend were in contact mainly through email and text messages after their relationship ended and saw information about each other’s lives on Facebook, which caused problems.

Mr Singleton, of Holly Mill Crescent, Astley Bridge, was due to go on holiday with his ex and her family but the invitation was withdrawn.

Breaking down in tears, his mum, Lyn, told the inquest: “He was low. I think he was confused about the relationship.”

Throughout the morning his former girlfriend was returning from holiday, April 5, he sent her texts asking to talk and then threatened to harm himself. One message said: “I’m dead inside so I might as well be dead”.

She later contacted the family asking them to check on him.

Mr Singleton was found in the garage of the family home by his father, Brett.

He was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital but attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Returning an open verdict, because he could not be sure Aaron intended to end his own life, Mr Walsh said: “It is sad that the breakdown of his relationship led to the breakdown of his life.”

He had earlier said: “Texts, emails and Facebook are systems that provide wrong impressions and reactions, which seems to have been a major driver in the way Aaron’s despair continued after the breakdown of the relationship, they would not be there if people met faceto- face.”

Mrs Singleton said: “He was really lovable, the best son I could have ever asked for.”