An inquest on the death of a man who was on trial for a string of child sex-related allegations opened yesterday in Ipswich.

Computer consultant Ian Durrands was found dead earlier this year in the water near the Orwell Bridge on the day of his 63rd birthday, October 27.

Durrands, of Cage Lane in Felixstowe, had denied three offences of sexual assault of a child under 13 between 2004 and 2008 and assault of a child by penetration between 2006 and 2012. He had also pleaded not guilty to taking revenge between 2008 and 2013 by sending correspondence and setting up, updating, controlling web sites which harmed and were intended to harm a woman and members of her family knowing or believing that she and other members of her family had assisted in the investigation of offences.

In addition he denied two offences of making more than 2,500 indecent pictures of children, one offence of distributing indecent pictures of children and two offences of possessing indecent images of children.

Suffolk coroner Peter Dean, after opening the inquest, said the cause of death had been given as drowning due to a fall from height.

Dr Dean then adjourned the inquest to enable further enquiries to take place.