Dipesh Miyanger, 22, was found hanging by an electrical flex ligature from the garage roof of his home in Headingley Mount on January 16.

Leeds Coroner's Court heard how toxicology tests carried out on his body showed he had taken a "significant" amount of cocaine in the hours leading up to his death.

The former Lawnswood School pupil, who was studying business and computing at Leeds Metropolitan University, had been treated in hospital after a vicious assault in September 2007, in which he suffered a fractured eye socket.

Coroner David Hinchliff, who recorded a verdict of misadventure, said: "Things like this can have a long and far-reaching effect on a victim and can cause problems for some time to come.

"The events of September were still an issue in Dipesh's mind."

The court also heard how Dipesh, affectionately known as "Dips", was around £10,000 in debt when he died, which Mr Hinchliff said may have been connected to his cocaine use.

It was also implied that Dipesh may have been a victim of intimidation after the assault on Woodhouse Lane, although in evidence, PC Michelle Pickup said she thought this was "unlikely."

A man from Sleaford, Lincolnshire, was charged with assault after the attack.

It was also suggested that Dipesh had tried to kill himself before and could have visited suicide websites, although his computer hard drive had been wiped before his death.

In a statement, Dipesh's father Mahendra – who found the body – told the court he and his son had discussed the debt problems and had come up with a solution.

He said he was not aware that Dipesh was using cocaine when he died.

Mr Hinchliff said: "I think the heightened state of mind he would have been in, given the fact he was using cocaine, would have affected his normal thinking process.

"He reacted to that rather than because he had a desire to end his life."