Last updated at 16:17, Friday, 22 March 2013

A DAD died from an overdose just days after being discharged from a mental health unit, an inquest heard.

The hearing into the death of dad-of-one Justin Telfer Forsyte was told he had been arrested on July 9 last year and detained in the Dova Ward of the Dane Garth Complex, Barrow.

Mr Forsyte, 42, was found dead at his home in Schneider Road five days later on July 14.

A post-mortem found he had fatal levels of codeine in his system.

Yesterday an inquest in Barrow Town Hall heard how Mr Forsyte – who had history of depression and suicide attempts – was tasered and restrained after Constable Patsy Blakeborough went to check on his welfare.

PC Blakeborough went to his house after a friend reported he was threatening to kill himself, she told the hearing.

She arrived at the same time as Mr Forsyte pulled up in his car and she said he initially seemed OK.

However, she and two other officers decided to arrest him after being told he had been drink-driving.

Mr Forsyte was in the kitchen of his house and became “very agitated”.

“He was clenching his fists and being very aggressive,” said PC Blakeborough.

“He was saying ‘Come on, Taser me then’.”

PC Blakeborough tasered him three times and he was taken straight to Furness General Hospital then detained in the Dova Ward under the mental health act.

During the hearing his parents Diane Williams and Ian Forsyte questioned medical staff who worked on the ward about why he had been discharged on July 12.

Their son’s history should have made it clear he was a risk to his own safety, they said.

However, Dr Laura Bath, who had been working on the unit said during the time he had been there she considered his state-of-mind had improved and he was safe to discharge.

The inquest was expected to conclude today.

First published at 16:10, Friday, 22 March 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk