Inquest: Neil Torpey took his own life after eviction notice from Christchurch flat

A highly regarded charity shop volunteer took his own life after “struggling” with his mental health when his landlord gave him notice to quit his home of 10 years.

Bournemouth Coroners’ Court heard that Neil Topey (49), who worked at Mind, could not deal with having to either move in with his mother or find another place to rent.

His brother Rich said in a statement Neil had “become anxious” after being given notice to leave his flat in Church Lane, Christchurch.

The coroner heard the landlord had also told other residents to vacate their flats.

Describing his brother as a “gentle giant” and saying he was “loved by us all”, Rich said Neil had got on well with neighbours and that “everyone who knew him only had good things to say about him”.

But he said his brother had suffered with “anxiety and depression” and the eviction had made him feel like a failure in having to move back home at his age. He was also worried about his mother passing away and being made homeless.

Rich said his brother had lived at the flats for a decade, and the eviction notice seemed to have “opened the floodgates in his mind”.

The inquest heard that Neil told a mental health nurse that he was “experiencing intrusive thoughts to end his life but would not act on them” in two appointments on 12th and 15th August last year.

Around four weeks later on 16th September, Rich went to Neil’s home because he had not been able to get hold of him. The door of his flat was locked and no one answered when he knocked.

A neighbour said they had not seen him for three days. Emergency services were called and forced entry. Neil’s body was found on his bed.

A postmortem revealed that Neil had died of carbon monoxide poisoning. His death was ruled as suicide by coroner Richard Middleton.

• The Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or at www.samaritans.org