Harry Slaughter was found hanged from a tree a week after warning probation services that he would commit suicide if they did not allow him to see his three-month-old son
A young father hanged himself outside a probation office after they banned him from seeing his baby son, a coroner has heard.
Harry Slaughter warned probation services a week before taking his own life that he was planning on killing himself if they refused to let him see his son.
The 21-year-old was banned from seeing the three-month-old after he was convicted of texting a schoolgirl and asking her to perform a sex act in July 2017.
An inquest heard Mr Slaughter previously attempted to drown himself two months later but was rescued by police officers when they saw him walking into the sea.
He was detained under the Mental Health Act and assessed by three mental health professionals who all concluded that he should not be admitted to hospital.
His mother, Jane Ward, told West Sussex assistant coroner Elisabeth Bussey-Jones that her son had tried to kill himself five times since he was 16 years old following the break-up of her marriage to his father.
The grief-stricken mother-of-two said in the months leading up to his death she would speak to him daily where he told her he was hearing voices in his head, had panic attacks, anxiety and was having trouble eating and sleeping.
‘He would send me texts threatening to do it [commit suicide] and I would be talking him out of it,’ the visibly upset mum said.
‘He said he was getting nowhere with the mental health people and was constantly phoning me up crying.
‘One time he was threatening to jump in front of a train and I had to talk him from the train station back to his home.
‘Literally every morning I was waking up thinking is this going to be a good day or a bad day.’
She added: ‘I felt he was let down in a big way [by mental health services] and now I have lost my baby boy.
‘A little boy has lost his dad and he will never know how Harry loved him with all his heart. No-one can describe the heartache we are all feeling now.’
His sister Niamh saw her brother at his flat on November 12, a day before he died, and said he appeared more positive and upbeat.
‘Most of his belongings were packed up as he was planning on beginning a new chapter in Leeds where he was moving to live with our mum,’ her statement read.
‘I thought he had lost weight and he said he was exercising more and trying to get fitter.
‘He said he had taken an interest in boxing recently and there was more colour in his face. He looked healthy.’
The inquest heard that probation officers alerted police after he threatened to commit suicide.
Officers attended his flat on November 7 in Littlehampton, West Sussex, hours later where Harry removed a knife from under his sleeve before putting it back in a drawer in the kitchen.
Police constable Neil Maloney said he did not feel Harry was at an immediate risk of harm as he had appeared calm and chatty.
‘He said he was upset as he was not permitted to see his son due to an outcome of a case against him,’ he said.
‘Probation were overseeing his rehabilitation, so to speak, as a result of that case. He wanted to see his son and that was very much very clear to me.
‘He blamed the probation service for him not being able to do so. He said he made that threat as he wanted to be taken seriously and didn’t think they were taking him seriously.
An inquest heard that Mr Slaughter had tried to take his own life five times since he was 16 years old following the break-up of her marriage to his father
‘He said not being able to see his son was having an adverse effect on him.’
Probation officer Kimberley French described a meeting she had with the emotional and angry young father a day later at the East Street centre in Littlehampton.
‘He said he didn’t feel anyone was helping him and his attempt of suicide was to show me and social services that he really wanted to see his son so someone would do something about it and push us,’ she said.
‘He told me the reason he would hang himself outside the probation office is so he wouldn’t have to be identified by his family and he would be found quickly.’
She broke down in tears when asked by Harry’s mum why she only sent an email to his doctor rather than contacting mental health services following the meeting.
‘It’s a question I ask myself all the time,’ said Miss French.
‘Harry didn’t present himself as suicidal that day and he wasn’t talking to me about wanting to do anything again.’
He made an appointment with his doctor, Elizabeth Burgess, at the Fitzalan Surgery three days later where he was prescribed small dosages of anti-depressant citalopram and anti-anxiety drug diazepam.
However, his mother revealed he never took them.
Dr Burgess said she did not believe he was a suicide risk after carrying out an assessment, despite knowing probation officers had deemed him to be high risk just two days earlier.
Wiping her eyes with a tissue, the tearful doctor said: ‘I really truly did believe he came to me looking for help and had come for medication.’
His lifeless body was discovered hanging from a tree by police staff and members of the public in the early hours of November 13.
Messages addressed to members of his family were found in a notebook at his flat a day later.
Toxicology tests revealed he had no alcohol in his body at the time of his death but there were traces of cannabis consistent with recreational use.
Miss Bussey-Jones recorded a conclusion of suicide.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details.