A middle-aged Hartlepool man died after going into the sea off Horden shortly after being told his sickness benefits were being withdrawn.
Mr Oliver said Mr Metcalf had been ‘a somewhat solitary individual,’ with no family and apparently just one acquaintance, a local garage owner who had alerted police after Mr Metcalf gave him his car keys and bank documents, saying he would not need them any more.
He had been examined by mental health practitioner Leighann Fishpool, whose report said: “David was signed off sick for nine years due to anxiety, stress and panic attacks.
“He has recently been deemed fit for work and told he would need to go to the JobCentre to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance.
“He said he was frustrated and upset and thought ‘What’s the point?’
“He feels he needs someone to go with him to the JobCentre so they can sort this out for him.
“He feels frustrated at having his benefits stopped and finds it difficult to communicate with staff at the JobCentre.”
But he had denied any intention to harm himself and displayed no signs of major mental illness.
But they reckon he might have accidentally fallen in the water. Hmmm.
