A MAN who took his own life was "screaming for help and completely ignored" by the mental health care system, according to his partner.

David Jordan William Gray, 39, was found dead in the back courtyard of his flat in Bedwin Street, Salisbury, on August 24, 2021.

Before his death, Mr Gray was referred to Wiltshire's primary care liaison services several times since his first contact in 2018 when he had “low mood and anxiety”.

Mr Gray had been the subject of a police investigation during the months leading up to his death and the stress this caused "exacerbated" his poor mental health.

In a statement read out at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court on Friday, February 16, Mr Gray's partner Kathleen Townsend explained how the pair had met on a dating website 10 years before he died.

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Describing Mr Gray as a man with "a great sense of humour", Miss Townsend said: "He believed that men with anxiety just got ignored.

"He was arrested by the police which completely spiralled him. He got referred to a private care liaison service and he never saw anyone in person even before Covid."

Salisbury Journal: David Gray was found dead in the rear courtyard of his flat in Bedwin Street.David Gray was found dead in the rear courtyard of his flat in Bedwin Street. (Image: Google Maps)

The court heard how Mr Gray was met with "the same response" whenever he mentioned the police investigation to the mental health team which was that his "significant" stress "would get better after the court date".

Miss Townsend's statement continued: "He felt like his life did not matter.

"He was pretty much screaming for help. He was not eating and would sit in the flat in the dark, it was heart-breaking to watch."

On the night Mr Gray died the couple had been enjoying a date night during which they shared a bottle of white wine and watched a film in the flat.

Mr Gray had been taken off all his depression and anxiety medication around one month prior to this.

The court heard how, during the course of the night, "a switch flicked" and Mr Gray said he was going out for a walk. 

Miss Townsend raised concerns with the police service at 10pm and PC Luke Colder, who was on duty that night, began searching for Mr Gray on foot.

Almost seven hours later, at 1.40am, Mr Gray was found in the back courtyard of his flat in Bedwin Street.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.45am.

A statement from Detective Sergeant Melanie Wilson told the court that three risk assessments were conducted during the course of the investigation into Mr Gray.

During interviews, a "tearful" Mr Gray told police he had suicidal thoughts but no motivation to follow through with them.

Area coroner Ian Singleton concluded the cause of Mr Gray's death as suicide by hanging, he said: "David lived with his family in Bedwin Street. He had a past medical history of depression and anxiety which were exacerbated by stress. He left his home and was found in the rear courtyards.

“Having regard to the problems David had and the manner he was found I do believe he intended to take his own life."

Mr Singleton offered his sincere condolences to Mr Gray's friends and family for their loss.

For more information and guidance about mental health and suicide visit samaritans.org. You can call the Samaritans on 116 123.