Royal Navy engineer was found dead after his family were stripped of their dream home over fence row
A ROYAL Navy engineer was found dead after his family were stripped of their dream home over a fence row.
Robert Minshull, a senior sailor and Afghan veteran, took his own life after suffering severe stress following the loss of his family’s “forever home“.
The Petty Officer was in the process of buying the £375,000 property with wife Kerry, 41, back in 2020.
However, when they asked if the 4ft fence in the back garden could be slightly higher to give their two daughters privacy, things came crashing down.
Their home was unexpectedly put back on the market in 2021 but for an even higher price – which they couldn’t afford after splashing £10k on fees.
Tragically, just a year later Rob killed himself.
Kerry said her loving husband “couldn’t get past” losing their home and thought the new property in Cornwall they had moved into was “second best”.
She said he started drinking more, couldn’t sleep, had lost his appetite and was always in a “low mood”.
An inquest heard Rob was also suffering with other stresses.
The aircraft engineer, who had joined the Royal Navy aged 17, had recently been offered a promotion to Chief Petty Officer – which he did not want, says Kerry.
Kerry told the coroner: “Rob was the life and soul, everyone loved him.
“He was a brilliant husband and father and would do anything for anyone.”
He had been prescribed anti-depressants by Navy doctors but feared he would be medically discharged and stopped taking them.
Before the tragedy, Rob told Kerry he loved her before going to bed.
A few hours later he was found dead.
Captain Stuart Irwin, Commanding Officer, said an inquest into Rob’s death was launched.
He added anyone referred to the medical board is not discharged despite common perception.
Captain Irwin said close friends and colleagues in Rob’s small unit did not see any change in his behaviour and were shocked by his death.
Assistant coroner Emma Hillson recorded his death as suicide adding the house had hugely impacted his mental wellbeing.
At the time of the house troubles, Kerry said: “It’s just broken my family completely.
“We’ve been waiting a year for this. I’d never wish this to happen to anybody.”
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm