A MAGISTRATE told an inquest how he dumped his lover hours before she threw herself in front of a lorry.

Nick Nenadich said Samantha Pitt ranted and raved when he told her he was going back to his wife.

Ms Pitt, of Ewyas Harold, repeatedly rammed Mr Nenadich's car before "screeching off" in her own, the Hereford inquest heard.

The 29-year-old drove to a remote spot on the A4103 Hereford-Worcester road at Fromes Hill where she lay in wait for a passing lorry. Police found a note in her car saying she intended some form of self-harm.

County coroner David Halpern recorded a suicide verdict.

Evidence outlined Ms Pitt's history of mood swings and depression. She had, the inquest heard, threatened self-harm before but was thought to be too fond of her family to do it.

Mr Nenadich said how he ended his long-term affair with Ms Pitt during a "bizarre evening" in July, last year.

The couple had just returned from holiday together when Mr Nenadich's wife showed up. Over a "long discussion", Mr Nenadich decided to return to his wife. Ms Pitt took this calmly at first, he said, but soon started "ranting and raving".

Mr Nenadich said he had to restrain Ms Pitt from flailing and kicking out at him after she had repeatedly rammed, then scratched, his car.

Ms Pitt called her brother to say she had been "dumped" and couldn't go on. She then "screeched off" towards Hereford, said Mr Nenadich.

About three hours later, Ms Pitt threw herself in front of an 18-tonne delivery truck at Fromes Hill and died instantly.

Police accident investigators said, in evidence, she had concealed herself beside the road - somewhere she could have clearly seen and heard oncoming traffic - giving the driver no time to react.

Officers followed a trail that included Ms Pitt's handbag, a foil tablet strip and a champagne bottle wrap back to the car she left in a nearby lane. There, they found a note indicating her intention, left between the two front seats.