Paranoid schizophrenic Barry Cox from Lymington had suffered mental health problems for more than 20 years, Winchester Coroners’ Court heard

A paranoid schizophrenic who told his father MI5 was trying to kill him was found dead in his Lymington home five days later.

Barry Cox (47) had suffered mental health problems for over 20 years, an inquest at Winchester Coroners’ Court heard. But he had told mental health staff caring for him that “if he had a wife and employment, his life would have been different”.

On 18th July last year he was watching TV at his parents’ house in Barton when he accused his father Ian of “plotting against him”.

In a statement, Ian Cox said his son had told him he thought his father was “part of MI5 and was out to get him”.

He said his son then became “very volatile and menacing”, and asked him if he wanted to go his home on Priestlands Road, to which he said “Yes.”

When they arrived at Barry’s home, he apologised to his father for what he had said, told him he loved him, then added: “This is the last time you will see me.”

But Ian said he was not worried because his son had told him that several times before.

Talking about Barry’s mental health issues, Ian said they had started when he was in his 20s, and although he was “highly intelligent” and excelled at IT he had never been employed.

He needed a worthwhile job and a friendship group, Ian said, adding that his son had wanted “a wife, children and employment”.

Ian said that in the weeks leading up to his death Barry was frustrated that new anti-psychosis tablets he was taking meant he could not drive.

The change in medication had made Barry’s condition “worse”, said Ian, and he also drank, which worsened his illness.

After dropping Barry at home Ian had not heard from his son again. Barry was found dead at his property five days later by firemen who broke into his home after Sara Hibbert, a mental health nurse who was checking on him, had seen his body through a window.

Police who arrived found empty packets of an anti-psychotic medicine and a half empty bottle of vodka in the flat. Neighbours said they had not seen him for four or five days,

A postmortem found he had a blood alcohol reading of 182mgs per 100mls of blood which is twice the drink-drive limit. He had also taken an overdose of the medicine.

Reading statements from various medical staff, coroner Henry Charles said Barry had been sectioned twice in 2023 after becoming psychotic – the last time in June.

He told hospital staff then that he was being followed by police, his medicine had been tampered with, neighbours were spying on him and that he was going to be shot by MI5 agents.

After his mood stabilised, Barry – who was described by his mental health team as being “dry witted, warm and popular” – went back to live at home.

Ms Hibbert said the team caring for Barry had tried to ring him several times after 18th July but got no reply. Becoming concerned, she went to his home where she saw his body through a window and called emergency services.

Recording that Barry Cox had died from a combination of an overdose of drugs and alcohol toxicity, the coroner said fatty liver disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had also contributed to the death.

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