Alcoholic died after being told to drink again

A DOCTOR told a depressed alcoholic to start drinking six pints of beer a day again to ease his “cold turkey” symptoms days before he killed himself, an inquest heard.

Vikash Patel advised Stephen Appleton to resume drinking, warning of the dangers of giving up too quickly.

The 51-year-old was found hanged at his home in Windsor, Berks, a week later.

At yesterday’s inquest, Dr Patel was asked why he gave the advice. He said reducing intake from six pints a day to zero risked potentially fatal “withdrawal seizures”.

He said: “I was told his alcohol consumption should be reverted back to original levels and reduced by 10 per cent per week. I felt that to be reasonable, or he would have run the risk of potentially fatal consequences.”

Dr Patel said he had followed generic advice from the Turning Point organisation, which deals with recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol, and passed it on to his patient.

Mr Appleton, who lived with his partner, Sandra Smith, and daughter, worked in investments in London for 15 years before he was made redundant in 2009. He began drinking in 2016, having six pints of strong lager daily before seeking professional help, the inquest heard.

Ms Smith said she was shocked the doctor had told him to take up drinking again. That night he consumed two bottles of wine.

She said Mr Appleton had become consumed by financial worries before his death, despite earning £100,000 a year counselling people involved in bankruptcy cases. She said his job was bringing him down and that everyone he spoke to “took a part of him”. He was diagnosed with depression in May 2017 and had been taking antidepressants.

He died in April 2018. Dr David Bremner, medical director at Turning Point, said: “We do advise GPS to refer patients who are alcohol dependent to specialist treatment services. We recommend that while someone is waiting to be assessed they should not suddenly stop their drinking because of the risk of seizures and death.

“However, this would have to be viewed on the individual circumstances and the advice, where anyone is experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, is to access emergency services.”

The inquest continues.