Man died days after planning wedding

A DAD hanged himself just a week after planning to get married.
Bolton Coroners' CourtBolton Coroners' Court
Bolton Coroners' Court

An inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court heard that Paul Andrews was discovered by his girlfriend of 10 years Rebecca Wilcock at their home in Parkfields, Abram, on November 8 last year.

It was revealed the 28-year-old had a history of depression, which related to being abused as a child by person known to him outside the family.

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Although he appeared to have overcome his problems, the memories had flared up in the summer. Ms Wilcock said: “His behaviour changed and he became agitated.” She added he also used cannabis on a frequent basis.

She recounted that on the day of his death, the pair had argued over the parenting of their five-year-old daughter.

She said: “I said I would take over combing my daughter’s hair as she was crying and he went from nought to 60 in a matter of seconds. It was a petty argument.

“But then he started saying things that had not even been discussed. He was saying ‘are you going to leave me?’”

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Ms Wilcock called her dad, Neil, who calmed the pair down and suggested they stay in separate rooms for a short while.

Paul left to have his hair cut at his dad’s house and returned at around 5.30pm.

Not long afterwards, Ms Wilcock, who did not see or speak to Paul, left the house and when she returned home at around 7,20pm, she found him hanged on the landing.

Paramedics could do nothing to help him and pronounced him dead at the scene,

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Ms Wilcock added: “I loved Paul very much and he loved me. The week before we planned on getting married. We were a very happy couple.”

Neil Wilcock said that when calming the argument down Paul revealed details of what had troubled him as a child. He also expressed how he was working hard and was under pressure.

Mr Wilcock added that he had received a missed call from Paul at around 5.45pm and planned to call him back later.

He said: “In hindsight I wish I had called him back.”

Paul’s dad, Charles, said that his son, a plumber, had suffered depression between 2006 and 2008 and had only revealed his abuse to family a few years ago.

He said: “He had been bottling things up.

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“He had not been taking any medication but was dealing with things by taking part in social activities.

“He was fine and dealing with it.”

Mr Andrews added he saw his son a few hours before his death and had mentioned the argument with Ms Wilcock.

The inquest also heard that Paul had sought specialist help for anxiety and depression between 2006 and 2008 but had been discharged.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Paul died as a result of hanging. Blood rests also revealed he had taken cannabis.

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Assistant coroner Simon Jones recorded an open conclusion, saying: “As he took cannabis we cannot exclude the possibility that affected his thought process.

“I cannot be certain that he intended to end his life.”