A 'loving' Cranbrook dad was tragically found passed away at home on the day he had been due to attend a social services meeting. The previous evening, self-employed courier driver Leighton McKenzie had received a report relating to it which was described as 'quite brutal' by his wife, an inquest heard.
The 47-year-old had been living alone in his family home after his wife and son had recently moved out on the advice of social services. When he did not attend the meeting, his wife alerted police and after gaining entry into the property his death was confirmed on June 9, 2021.
A suicide note was discovered. Mr McKenzie, who was born in Slough, was said to have had some history of depression and was prone to bouts of heavy drinking when he was not working, but had been seeking help to reunite his family.
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In a statement read out at Exeter Coroners Court yesterday, October 4, his wife told how they began dating at Paignton Community College and then got married after she fell pregnant with their son. She described how their relationship was at times strained.
Following an altercation between the couple at home on Easter Sunday in April 2021, she told how she contacted his doctor the next day due to concerns about his behaviour. It led to several telephone consultations in which Mr McKenzie admitted to having financial worries and previously drinking heavily.
He referred himself to local services Together and Talkworks and denied any thoughts of self-harm. He and his wife were then left awaiting the outcome of a child protection conference on June 9, 2021, after social services became involved due to the Easter incident.
The day before the conference, Mrs McKenzie received a report from social services concerning the hearing and then he received his that evening. She said: "It was not a nice one and quite brutal."
When she heard Mr McKenzie had not participated in the meeting the next day, she said: "At this point, I knew something was wrong as he would do anything for our son."
The cause of his death was confirmed as asphyxia due to hanging. Toxicology tests concluded he had consumed sufficient alcohol to cause 'extreme drunkenness' prior to death.
Shatter the Silence
The DevonLive Shatter the Silence campaign aims to encourage anyone struggling to reach out and talk - to either a friend, relative, charity or a professional. Our campaign content will highlight just how important talking is and the difference it can make.
Ultimately, we want to reduce the number of people who die by suicide in Devon. We will highlight where to get help and show how talking has helped people come through difficult times in their lives. We will speak to families who have lost loved ones to look at the lasting impact of suicide and attempt to dismiss the inaccurate belief many people who are struggling manifest that they are a burden on the ones they love. We will look at the devastation caused to those left behind in the hope that even one reader might change their mind if they have considered taking their own life.
We will speak to people who have survived a suicide attempt and have accessed counselling or other mental health services to show that things can get better. We will speak to Samaritans volunteers about their vital work in Devon and how they are on hand 24-7 to listen. And we will offer guidance on what to say to someone who is struggling so people feel more confident to have that conversation.
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WHERE TO GET HELP:
SAMARITANS offers support in a range of ways, including a self-help app, email support or by calling 116 123 for free 24 hours a day
NHS Offers advice on how to access mental health support
TALKWORKS is a free-to-access NHS service offering a variety of treatment and support for adults (aged 18+) living in Devon (excluding Plymouth)
CALM offer a free, confidential helpline 0800 58 58 58 and webchat, 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk about life's problems
HUB OF HOPE is a mental health support database that can signpost you to local support services
ANDY'S MAN CLUB offers men a chance to talk with like-minded people. They have clubs in Devon as well as nationally
KOOTH & QWELL provides free, safe and anonymous online mental wellbeing support, including moderated peer support forums and text-based counselling, to all residents living in Devon (aged 11+)
PETE'S DRAGONS provide free-to-access support to all residents living in Devon who may have been bereaved by suicide at any point in their lives
THE MOORINGS is an emotional support service that provides telephone and face-to-face support via a drop-in service at its bases in Exeter, Barnstaple and Torquay. It is a non-clinical service but provides emotional support, signposting to other services and other general support that is tailored to the people who access it.
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Social worker Abigail Prettejohn told the inquest that on the occasions she had spoken to Mr McKenzie she did not have any concerns about his wellbeing.
Referring to the contents of the report she emailed him, she said: "There should not have been anything in the report that came as a surprise to Mr McKenzie."
However, she conceded she had been late in sending over the report which she said was a result of a heavy workload.
In a statement, area manager Ashley Arkless, part of the Devon Children and Families Partnership who looked into how the case was handled after Mr McKenzie's death, conceded it was not in line with 'good practice' to have shared the report the evening prior to the conference and the usual practice was to go through the report with parents directly.
However, she said due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, virtual working, and capacity and demand, it had not been possible.
She concluded the decision to escalate the matter to a child protection conference was 'proportionate' to the risk identified and the threshold had been met.
Ms Arkless added: "She [Ms Prettejohn} was not given any reason to suspect he was at an increased risk of suicide other than that known by professionals or family."
Recording a conclusion of suicide, Alison Longhorn, area coroner for Exeter and greater Devon, said: "Leighton had a history of depression and was going through challenging life events during the previous month. I am satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, he took his own life that evening sadly and intended to do."
Following the inquest, Mr McKenzie's sister Kim and dad Ken paid tribute to their much loved and missed family member.
They said: “Leighton will never leave us. A special father, son and brother who was loving, kind and gentle. You still make us laugh as you are always in our thoughts and missed loads. Take our love with you.”
