'Stressed' Army major took own life

N Army major took his own life after fearing that seeking help for work stress and the pressures of fatherhood would “plight” his military career, an inquest heard.

- BEN MITCHELL

Nick Coles, who served with the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, was found by his wife, Tabitha, hanged in the garage of his home in Andover, Hampshire, in the early hours of August 4, 2023.

The Portsmouth inquest heard that he had been drinking wine with his wife during the evening and had a blood alcohol level similar to the drink-drive limit.

Mrs Coles told the hearing that her husband was dyslexic and found it difficult to cope with reading and writing work, which she said slowed him down and meant that he struggled balancing his work and spending time with their baby daughter.

She said: “He was always trying to do as much with her as possible, he found balancing that difficult, he would be leaving the office and it was seven o'clock and she would be going to bed, he was trying to squeeze everything in at once.”