A DEESIDE man who died after taking a cocktail of whisky and drugs did not intend to kill himself, a coroner has ruled.

Neil Russell Scott, 53, received support and psychological treatment for his alcohol addiction, an inquest heard.

And while he struggled to access support services on the day he took a fatal overdose, mental health staff had done all they could to help him.

Mr Scott was troubled by leading a double life as a homosexual and had said he felt “everyone accepted it (his sexuality), except me”.

His mental health worsened when he was asked to leave the family home by his wife.

He ended up staying at the flat of a friend, Jane Roberts, a fellow alcoholic he met at meetings of the support group Jigsaw.

He sent desperate text messages pleading for help before consuming 40 tablets, an anti-craving drug prescribed for his alcoholism, as well as a litre of whisky.

But Elizabeth Dudley-Jones, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, concluded a verdict of misadventure on Mr Scott, who lived at Grasmere Close, Connah’s Quay and said: “It’s clear he deliberately took a large quantity of tablets, but I do not find he took them with the view of taking his own life.

“He had talked about his life, the pride he had in being appointed vice-chairman (of the support group) and about visiting his wife the next day.

“The mental health staff acted appropriately in the circumstances and they were reassured that he was with another person which would lessen his risk.”

The hearing was told Mr Scott twice took overdoses in 2015 and was admitted to the Ablett mental health unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital.

When he was discharged the former serviceman received an unofficial diagnosis of PTSD and was treated for trauma, alcohol misuse and depression.

He received daily visits from a home treatment team but after being discharged from the service in November that year it was decided he would have to be referred again once his alcohol consumption reduced.

He was seen by consultant clinical psychologist Jean Ruddle in 2017 and suggestions were made for alternative strategies to cut his alcohol use.

She said that in March last year she did not consider he was at risk as he had a number of “protective” factors including his children and grandchildren.

But when she saw him again on May 4 his alcohol use had slipped back and he was expressing problems with his sexuality, telling her his whole life had been “hidden” for a number of years.

Mr Scott’s drinking escalated and after he walked out of an assessment saying he was going to kill himself he was hospitalised.

After discharging himself he went round to stay at his friend’s flat from where he sent a text to substance misuse worker Cerys Roberts telling her he had made a “life-changing” decision.

When he was contacted by Nerys Winney, co-ordinator for Flintshire Council’s community support team, he pleaded for accommodation and wanted to set up a meeting that day.

But the Ruthin hearing was told it was the team’s policy not to arrange such meetings and Ms Winney denied she put the phone down on Mr Scott.

Later Mr Scott sent a text to Mrs Roberts saying he had taken a “load of tablets”.

He was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital almost in a coma, but his condition improved and by May 25 there were plans to transfer him to a general ward but he suffered a cardiac arrest and despite attempts at resuscitation he died in the early hours of May 27.

A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death was a pulmonary embolism linked to deep vein thrombosis and a baclofen overdose.