A VET who ‘put on a happy face to the world’ was found dead at home after taking his own life, an inquest has heard.

Robert Taylor, who was originally from Warrington but living in Northwich at the time of his death, had taken an overdose of a barbiturate drug that is no longer licensed to be used on humans in the UK, but is widely used in veterinary practice.

The 28-year-old's body was found on the morning of July 17 at his home by two of his friends, who had become concerned for his welfare as he had not turned up for work.

Alan Moore, senior coroner for Cheshire, presided over an inquest into his death at Warrington Coroner’s Court on Monday, November 30.

The court heard that Mr Taylor had been diagnosed with epilepsy in 2014 and was on prescribed medication, including lamotrigine, as his condition resulted in him suffering from seizures.

Mr Moore read out evidence from Mr Taylor's wife Lydia Reynolds, in which she explained how her husband's seizures became more spread out and less frequent and how an appointment at the Walton Neurological Centre in Liverpool had not been able to determine any root cause for them.

She said: "The last one I can remember him having was around Christmas 2019.

"Doctors increased his lamotrigine which left him feeling flat and empty.

"Although it was having a positive effect on his seizures it was having a severe effect on his mental health, making him feel very depressed.

"The problem was Robert wouldn’t believe he was depressed and he would still go out and go to work as a vet and put on a happy face to the world."

Warrington Guardian:

Mr Taylor, who had never made any suggestion he would take his own life, sought the help of his GP on June 30.

"It was only a couple of weeks before his passing that Robert made an attempt to get help with his depression," his wife added.

"It was only near the end that he accepted he had a mental health condition and sought assistance to combat it.

"He was given a low dosage of anti-depressants, but they didn’t combat his mood due to the other medication he was taking."

His wife, who wasn't living with her husband at the time of his death, said she last contacted him via WhatsApp message at around 8pm on July 16.

The inquest also heard evidence from Mr Taylor's dad William, who said he had last spoken to his son on the telephone the night before his death.

His son had told him he 'wasn't good' when asked how he was feeling.

Despite the concern, Mr Taylor had also spoken on the phone to his sister during the same phonecall - during which they had made plans to meet up the following week, which seemed to 'lift his spirits'.

The following morning, shortly before 10am, Mr Taylor's friends, who had set up a WhatsApp to keep in contact with each other and to monitor his wellbeing, were informed he hadn't attended work.

Having received another message about an hour later which re-confirmed he still hadn't attended his work, friends Lorraine Campbell and Matthew Heath decided to go to his home to check on him.

They arrived just before midday and although the door was shut it was unlocked, so they let themselves in and went upstairs where they found Mr Taylor on the bed.

Despite efforts to resuscitate him, Mr Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective sergeant John Lyon from Cheshire Police, who attended the scene after a report from North West Ambulance Service of a body being found, found a typed letter on the bed signed 'Rob'.

DS Lyon said: "This letter indicated that Rob had intended to take his own life along with some administrative elements regarding finances which showed an element of planning and preparation.

"There was no evidence of any third party involvement and the family had informed me about a recent history of depression."

A toxicology report carried out by Philippa Wood, showed the amount of pentobarbital in Mr Taylor's blood was at a fatal level and consistent with excessive use with the potential to lead to respiratory depression.

In reaching a conclusion of suicide, Mr Moore said: "Mr Taylor died as a result of self-administered dose of pentobarbital, which had been administered with the intention of ending his own life.

"It is my sad duty in this inquest to record a conclusion of suicide."

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.