A DRAMA student transitioning to become a woman killed himself by jumping off a multi-storey car park, an inquest was told.

Nathan Bird, 20, died after suffering severe brain and spinal injuries just hours after a court appearance.

A court was told Nathan - who had begun to call himself Nat - was undergoing a sex change from a man into a woman at the time of his death.

His mother, Kay Bird, said her son suffered from "gender" issues and struggled with social situations.

But she said he in "good spirits" in the weeks before his death in November last year, having recently started a drama course at Birmingham University.

Mrs Bird, from Newport said: "I last saw him in October last year when I went to his university to give him a mobile phone and we went for a meal together.

"He appeared to be in good spirits and progressing well with his studies and coursework."

Nathan was called back to South Wales from university on November 21 to appear in court, but refused to tell family members any details.

Mrs Bird said: "I was concerned for his welfare but he sent me a message saying that he loved me."

She told Newport Coroners Court at 6pm the same day she was informed of Nathan's death having fallen from Kingsway Centre car park in Newport.

PC Ian Roberts from Gwent Police said Nathan's body was found shortly before 2.30pm.

CCTV cameras captured the moment Nathan climbed over the car park barriers on the sixth floor and stepped off the side of the building.

Coroner David Bowen recorded a verdict of suicide.

He said: "He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court where he had a non-custodial sentence.

"Following that he appeared to go to Newport city centre and was seen climbing over the fence of the sixth floor barrier.

"He appears to have stepped off into free air and fallen into the car park below."

Court records show that Bird appeared in Cardiff Crown Court on November 21 last year and pleaded guilty to several charges.

This included possessing an indecent image of a child and three counts of downloading indecent photos or pseudo photos of children.

He was given a non-custodial sentence - a community order of three years - and was listed on the sex offenders’ register for five years.