A young vet killed himself after becoming increasingly distressed by clients unnecessarily asking him to put down their animals, an inquest heard.

Dr John Ellis, 35, was upset that people with “brand new” cars parked outside his surgery did not want to pay to help their animals, a coroner has heard.

Before his death, Dr. Ellis told his mother that his clients who could not afford treatment often brought their pets in “too late” for anything to be done.

Dr Ellis’ mother, Tina Ellis, a Conservative councilor in Fareham, Hampshire, told an inquest into her son’s death that she found it “destructive”.

“Stressed” Dr Ellis – who the hearing heard was also leading a “double life” as he secretly cheated on his long-term partner – tricked a veterinary nurse into giving him the deadly drug by falsely claiming that he needed it to calm down. a friend’s “big dog”.

Instead, he used the drug to commit suicide via IV drip.

Winchester Coroner’s Court, Hants, was told that Dr Ellis, who worked in a practice near the town, was under considerable stress in his professional and private life at the time of his death in November 2022.

Ms Ellis told the hearing her son told her: ‘The owners are too late to come, they didn’t ask for help early enough for things that could have been quite simple.’

“He found it destructive,” she added.

Dr Ellis was a resident of Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists at the time of his death and told his mother he was having financial and sleeping problems.

Ms Ellis told the inquest: “All these things just completely piled up and he was finding it difficult.”

The investigation also revealed that over the previous two years, Dr Ellis had secretly cheated on his partner of 12 years, Ashley James, with another man, Ryan Hunt.

Mr James, a radiologist, told the hearing he did not know Dr Ellis had cheated on him before his death.

On the evening of November 6, 2022, Dr. Ellis, who had informed his mother and a friend of his intention to break up with Mr. James, told her that he was going to get food and collect a package from Animed. .

Once there, he told a nurse that he had been given permission to pick up medicine to put down a friend’s dog at home. The investigation revealed that the dose was sufficient to euthanize a “large” dog.

Dr Ellis then went to visit a friend who was on holiday in Tenerife at the time.

He called Mr James, who told the inquest that Dr Ellis had said “he had done something stupid – he told me he loved me”.

He also called Mr Hunt, who told the inquest: “He said he wasn’t going to hurt me anymore and hung up.”

The Samaritans are there to listen, day and night, 365 days a year. You can call them free on 116 123, email [email protected] or visit samaritans.org for more information.

After police were called, Dr Ellis was found in the bathroom at the back of the house and taken to Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, where he was pronounced dead in the early hours of November 7.

Dr Ellis’ father, Robert, told the inquest that the easy access to the drugs that killed his son made him feel like his son had access to a “loaded gun”.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Simon Burge, deputy coroner for Hampshire, said Dr Ellis’ death was “a huge loss of a talented life”.

Mr Burge said: “It is a great regret to the family and all his friends that he had to make the reckless and unnecessary decision he did.

“He did it in the context of relationship problems in more than one relationship. He was confused by his long-term love and perhaps infatuation with this young man Ryan, coupled with the considerable stress involved during the residency, due to the financial pressures it caused.

In a report on preventing future deaths to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Mr Burge warned about how Dr Ellis was able to obtain the drugs.

Mr Burge said: “He was able to access the drugs, which he knew were dangerous, without being challenged as to its purpose.” Veterinarians, like the deceased, have easy access to potentially lethal drugs… without any adequate controls in place to prevent their misuse.

“The decedent in this case was able to make up a story that he needed this medication to make a house call whose alleged purpose was to euthanize a large dog.

“He was given (the drug) by his former employers, without any prior checks to verify his version of why it was necessary and without careful examination by another veterinarian.

“He was allowed to leave the veterinary practice unaccompanied, with the medication, which he then used to commit suicide via intravenous drip.”

In a statement shared by the Amparo charity, the family said: “Those who knew John will remember him not only for his professional expertise, but also for his warmth, generosity and true love for animals.

“He poured his heart into his work and his absence leaves a deep void in the lives of all those who had the privilege of working with him and knowing him personally.

“As a family, we are devastated by the loss of John and continue to struggle with the grief and shock that comes with the death of someone so young and full of potential.

“We want to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who may be struggling with mental health issues to seek help and not suffer in silence. No one should feel alone, and we urge everyone to seek help if they need it.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check out our news page.

MORE: 10-year-old boy drowned in river despite best friend jumping in to try to save him

MORE: Vet warns pet owners against putting boots on dogs in cold weather

MORE: Hordes of rats escaping from sinkhole and destroying cars, say angry residents