A TALENTED musician fell under a train after fearing attempts to fake a school report would be discovered.

Richard Atkinson, of The Close, Orpington, had tampered with the report to reveal better marks than had actually been achieved.

The 16-year-old walked onto a platform at Sidcup railway station after becoming convinced the truth would emerge as his mother attended a parents' evening at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School.

A few hours earlier he had sent a mysterious internet message to a fellow pupil at the school, saying he expected something bad to happen.

A jury at Croydon Coroner's Court could not decide whether the death was a suicide or accidental and returned an open verdict.

David Atkinson, chief executive of York City Council, recalled how his son had been progressing well on the piano and violin.

He said: “He was proficient at anything, without being expert at anything.

“He was certainly intellectually able, but didn't make the effort.

“His one major drawback was his failure to take his schoolwork seriously.”

School friend Gemma Bennett said he had contacted her on the internet and told how he was supposed to be meeting some people he did not want to meet.

“He thought something bad would happen.

“He would not give me any more information and I heard no more,” she said.

Connex South Eastern train driver Robert Emery, who was at the controls of the 11.02pm Charing Cross-Dartford service, told how he stopped at a red light and after moving off discovered the power had been cut.

He said: “I was asked to examine the line.

“I was about 200 yards from Sidcup station when I saw a body lying face down on the running rail.”

Pathologist Dr Adam Coumbe said Richard died from multiple injuries with his head having been almost severed from his body.

He told the jury: “He was alone, he was not being chased.

“No one could believe he would take his own life.

“Maybe he was doing something silly. Maybe he fell.”