A coroner yesterday called for greater public vigilance to combat the danger of internet chatrooms.

The East Sussex coroner, Alan Craze, said greater police resources should be assigned to end the threat to the young and vulnerable from "anonymous" criminals who live in a "fantasy world".

A man leapt to his death after meeting another man at a chatroom site detailing suicide methods, an inquest heard. Michael Gooden, 35, from Camberwell, south London, arranged to meet Louis Gillies at Beachy Head cliffs near Eastbourne. The pair had discussed suicide at the internet chatroom, which lists the best ways, and places, for suicide.

Mr Gooden jumped to his death on June 7 2002. Mr Gillies, of Glasgow, was charged with assisting a suicide.

But on the day of his trial at Lewes crown court, he was found hanged at his Glasgow flat.

Mr Craze recorded a verdict of suicide in the case of Mr Gooden, a postal worker.

He said: "Many people are becoming increasingly worried about chatrooms. Now there is this case of encouraging, aiding and abetting, assisting the suicide of another.

He called for greater police resources to tackle internet crime, and for public vigilance "if children and others start to show signs of undue influence following the use of the internet".