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Shotgun returned to depressed man, an inquest heard





The hearing in Newbury on Wednesday, October 24, was told that officers had removed the weapons from 65-year-old Thomas Andrew Holbert, known as Tucker, following a warning from a worried acquaintance.
But current legislation is such, the coroner heard, that when he asked for the guns back, police had no reason to refuse.
Mr Holbert’s body was found on February 24 at Hildesley Court sheltered housing complex by site manager Andrew Nunn, after a concerned neighbour raised the alarm when he had not opened his curtains as usual that morning, the hearing was told.
Mr Nunn said in a statement that he gained access using a master key and found Mr Holbert’s body with a shotgun beneath it in an upstairs bedroom .
A post mortem found death was caused by a single shotgun wound to the head.
The hearing was told that Mr Holbert was being treated for depressive illness and Mr Holbert also suffered from bipolar disorder, although this appeared to have been stabilised recently.
Det Con John Yallop of Newbury CID revealed that police had been contacted by an acquaintance of Mr Holbert’s concerned about his welfare and warning he had access to firearms and was on medication.
Officers removed them temporarily on a “pretext” of looking after them while Mr Holbert installed a new, secure gun cabinet but, soon before he died, Mr Holbert asked for them back.
Berkshire coroner Peter Bedford summed up: “It’s clear to me he had a long standing bipolar disorder he had battled with all his life. When concern was expressed, the weapons were removed, perhaps on a pretext. But there was no reason not to return them to him when he asked, having complied (with security requirements).
“I note from police records there was no history of concern regarding threats to himself or others and he had made no previous attempts on his life.”
Mr Bedford ruled that Mr Holbert took his own life while suffering from depression.



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