Preston dad Cain Dutton, 26, who had debt of £1,000 and sometimes went without food to feed his son killed himself, court told

Cain Thomas Dutton, 26, from Dunoon Close, Ingol, died from a cardiac arrest at Royal Preston Hospital on March 17 a day after being found hanged at his home.

The former administrator and father of one was found unresponsive in his home by his friend Lee Gardner the previous day.

Mr Gardner said they had made plans that morning with Cain to have a brew, but Cain had asked if he could change the plans to later that day as he had his own plans later that morning.

An inquest at Preston Coroner's Court found that Lee, who had described his friend as a "lovely lad and a decent guy", went over to friend’s house despite the change of plans and found Cain "lifeless and blue".

An ambulance was then called and he was taken to Royal Preston Hospital. A brain scan was carried out on admission and he was then placed in ICU Level 3 care.

However the next day he went into cardiac arrest. CPR was initiated but he was pronounced dead at 3pm, having also suffered irreversible brain damage.

It was noted that Mr Dutton had a past history of anxiety and depression and had struggled with his mental health.

He had also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but said the only medication he needed was from his son and partner.

His partner Sophie was first made aware he was contemplating ending his life by her mother after she had received concerning text messages from him on March 15 after giving him a lift home at 2am.

She said that he seemed fine earlier that evening and was laughing and joking.

He had messaged her saying he wanted to do something nice for Sophie and she suggested going away somewhere nice.

Describing him as like a son to her, she said the next message she received was saying how he couldn't carry on that he loved them all and that "It's done, it's over" and that he was "going to be with mum".

His father Alan Dutton described his son as a "happy and caring individual" who at times suffered with his mental health.

In 2019 he had been prescribed anti-depressants after an overdose of mixed medications, but a report from his GP found he was not collecting his prescription leading up to his death.

He said that they tried to see each other once a month and that the last time he saw him was the previous week where he described him as "being okay" during the visit and added that Cain had planned to fix up his garden.

The inquest also heard that Mr Dutton had been in debt and that his partner of three years Sophie said that sometimes they would go without food so the rest of the family could eat.

Recording the medical cause of death as a hypoxic brain injury due to hanging. Returning a conclusion of suicide Assistant Coroner Laura Nash added that "unfortunately his family will never really know the reason".