An aspiring male model stabbed himself to death in a fit of anger during a drunken argument with his girlfriend.
Elliott Bowes, 26, drove a knife into his own stomach at his flat in Preston after saying he feared 22-year-old Charlotte Hubbert would leave him, an inquest heard.
Police initially arrested Miss Hubbert on suspicion of murder but she was subsequently freed without charge when it was established she had done nothing wrong.
Mr Bowes, who had been drinking vodka at the time of the incident, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital but he died from his wounds the following day.
Elliott Bowes, an aspiring male model who suffered from depression, stabbed himself after a night drinking with his girlfriend, Charlotte Hubbert, his inquest has heard
Mr Bowes was a cleaner but hoped to be a model and actor and posted photos had appealed for work on the online talent directory Star Now.
Miss Hubbert told the coroner that on August 2 she and Mr Bowes had been drinking and enjoying pizza at their flat, but he later became angry and punched a wall.
Her statement said: ‘I became scared and tried to leave but he hugged me and told me not to leave and then began looking for some knives.
‘I tried to stop him but he pushed me out of the way and he grabbed a knife about five inches long and thrust it into his stomach.
‘He said that I cared more about my friends than I did him. I attempted to stop the bleeding until the paramedics arrived and they took over.’
Mr Bowes’ girlfriend said their relationship was loving but he had struggled with depression
Her statement continued: ‘He did have some mental health issues he told me about. He was very depressed, and he told me that he wanted to self harm in the past.
‘We were in a generally loving relationship. I was devastated about what happened and he was the best boyfriend I ever had. He was my rock.’
The inquest hearing was told Mr Bowes’ parents had died and his aunt was the closest family he had.
He had a history of depression and anxiety and made threats to self harm with his aunt concerned he had ‘been through a lot in his life.’
Toxicology tests showed Mr Bowes had 169 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of blood in his system. The alcohol limit for driving is 80mg.
He had hoped to get work as a model or TV extra and had advertised himself online
Recording a conclusion of death by self-inflicted stab wound, coroner James Newman said: ‘Can I say that he stabbed himself with the intention of taking his own life? I am having difficulty with that.
‘Elliott died as a direct result of a stab wound to his abdomen. I don’t think it’s an accident, but I don’t think it is suicide either.
‘He struggled with mental health issues and used mental health services. Tragically, we have heard he stabbed himself in his home. He lost a large amount of blood and his heart just gave out.
‘I will conclude that Elliott Bowes died as a result of a stab wound to his abdomen. In terms of the circumstances, his anxiety and depression became very agitating to him on the night of August 2 2017. His agitation got to the point where he spontaneously stabbed himself with a kitchen knife.
‘Despite the efforts of the paramedics and emergency surgeons at Royal Preston Hospital, Mr Bowes succumbed to his injuries on August 3.
‘Mr Bowes died as a result of self inflicted stab wounds to the abdomen, however his intention is unclear in the evidence. I wish I could say that an inquest would wave a magic wand and make things better, but unfortunately it doesn’t.’
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