31 July 2024

Before HM Assistant Coroner Angharad Davies
Manchester (City) Coroner’s Court, Exchange Floor, The Royal Exchange Building, Manchester
Scheduled 5-9 August 2024

Scott Boughton, 34, died a self-inflicted death on 5 June 2021 whilst under the care of Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust (GMMH) and following contact with Greater Manchester Police (GMP). Now an inquest will open into his death.

Scott, was a warm, kind, caring and thoughtful individual. When he was well, he was bright, friendly, confident and had a good sense of who he was, with a very good sense of humour. He was a much loved son, brother and father. 

Scott had a long history of mental ill health, including self-harm, and suicide attempts, including two significant attempts in the five weeks leading up to his death.

In April 2021, Scott attempted suicide following his partner’s self-inflicted death. He was admitted to hospital in Blackpool under the Mental Health Act (MHA) for a period of time before being discharged into the community.

Between 13 May until his death on 5 June, Scott was under the care of GMMH. On 29 May Scott overdosed and was taken to North Manchester General Hospital.

On 30 May, Scott absconded from the hospital. He was later found by police but was not returned by them to the hospital and no MHA assessment took place.

On the evening of 4/5 June, a series of events took place involving two different police areas within GMP.

Scott’s half sister called GMP after Scott had told her he had self-harmed. GMP North located Scott at his father’s address and found Scott with a visible injury. Scott told police officers that he was having suicidal thoughts due to the death of his partner.

An ambulance attended and police officers initially left the property. Following a disturbance between Scott and his father, Scott self-harmed again. The ambulance service requested assistance from police and GMP returned to the property.

Scott informed one of the officers that he would like to go to hospital. Instead, officers took Scott to his mother’s address.

In the early hours of 5 June, Scott’s mother contacted GMP and reported to them that Scott was self-harming. This time officers attended from GMP South.

A number of the officers who attended either did not have their Body Worn Video (BWV) cameras on them or had them switched off. 

Officers took Scott away before the ambulance, which had also been called, arrived at the address. After taking Scott to his father’s address, officers left.

Shortly after Scott had been left by GMP, he contacted HBTT to ask for help. The practitioner contacted GMP and asked them to carry out a welfare check as Scott was high risk. No welfare check was carried out.

At 03:27am, she made a further call to GMP following urgent concern for Scott’s welfare. At 03:59am officers found Scott dead at his father’s address.

The inquest will seek to explore the following issues:

• The referral from Blackpool to GMMH at the point of discharge on 13 May 2021;
• Scott’s mental health care and treatment by GMMH between 13 May – 5 June 2021 including the adequacy of the decision to put him on a 14 day hold despite two medical recommendations for detention;
• Contact with GMP on 4-5 June 2021.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For further information, please contact Leila Hagmann on [email protected]. 

The family is represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Gemma Vine of Ison Harrison Limited and Christian Weaver of Garden Court North Chambers. They are supported by INQUEST Senior Caseworker Selen Cavcav.

Other Interested persons represented are Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust, North West Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Police.

Journalists should refer to the Samaritans Media Guidelines for reporting suicide and self-harm and guidance for reporting on inquests.