Suicide dad feared he’d kill children in a new Hungerford
A FATHER obsessed with the Hungerford massacre – in which 16 were shot dead – killed himself because he feared he might hurt his children, an inquest heard.
Adam Ludlow, 37, heard voices telling him to harm his family as his mental health worsened, relatives said.
The inquest heard Mr Ludlow had mentioned to his mother Angela that Hungerford gunman Michael Ryan had murdered his own mother in the 1987 rampage. Mrs Ludlow told the inquest: ‘He said to me, “He killed his mother first.” I told him, “You are not going to kill me”.’
The father-of-two, who had suffered mental health problems for 17 years, suffocated himself on September 14 in his garage in Reading – 30 miles from Hungerford. The inquest heard Mr Ludlow’s mental health had deteriorated after he heard a loud bang while reading to one of his sons, and he began hearing voices telling him to hurt his wife Ellen and their children.
Mr Ludlow, who had breakdowns when each of his two sons was born, began spending most of his time at his mother’s house and could not be left alone.
His mother had to sleep in the same room as him and even sit in the bathroom while he showered.
He was most recently admitted to hospital in April last year and was taking powerful anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs at the time of his death.
Mrs Ludlow said: ‘ Adam’s mental health took a severe downturn early in 2017, when he started hearing frightening internal voices.
‘Their subject matter was centred around death, violence and the harming of his children and family.
‘He self-harmed in efforts to distract these thoughts. He had to leave his family home and move into my home, in an effort to protect his children from watching this terrible illness. On September 14, Adam took his own life as he feared he was out of control.
‘It was an act of “sacrificial love”, giving his own life, so his family would be safe.’ The
‘An act of sacrificial love’
inquest was told that the Hungerford massacre had involved a friend of Mr Ludlow’s father.
Assistant coroner for Berkshire Emma Jones halted the hearing in Reading on Wednesday, adjourning proceedings until next month because Mr Ludlow’s family had not been given the chance to review all the evidence.
The family also claimed staff at Prospect Park Hospital in Reading had failed to put a care plan in place as Mr Ludlow’s condition deteriorated.
His mother said: ‘In our opinion errors in his treatment were made.
‘Adam’s death has left a devastated family, including two young boys without a daddy.’
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