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Daily Record
By Dailyrecord.co.uk
COLIN Tarrant, who played Inspector Andrew Monroe in ITV’s The Bill for more than a decade, found out the sale of his house had fallen through for a second time.
A TV actor took his own life after becoming depressed at being unable to sell his home, an inquest has heard.
Colin Tarrant, who played Inspector Andrew Monroe in ITV’s The Bill for more than a decade, found out the sale of his London house had fallen through for a second time a day before.
The 59-year-old was found by his partner in the bathroom of his home in the Hotwells area of Bristol on the morning of January 25.
The father of two had suffered a number of knife wounds, the inquest in Flax Bourton, near Bristol, was told. Mr Tarrant was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary but died the following day.
The hearing was told the actor had been trying without success to sell his former home in London. On January 24 he visited his GP with his partner Sabrina Morris because he had been feeling depressed about his financial problems.
In a statement read to the court Detective Constable Adam Smith said: “Mr Tarrant had not been sleeping and according to Sabrina Morris had become extreme in his behaviour.
“Mr Tarrant was given sleeping tablets and anti-depressants by his doctor. As Mr Tarrant left the surgery he received a telephone call informing him that the sale of his property had fallen through for a second time.”
The inquest heard that his GP Dr Nicholas Ring had found he was suffering from moderately severe depression.
Dr Ring said: “I specifically asked him if he had thoughts of suicide but he indicated that although he felt desperate at times he would not consider suicide because of his partner and child.”