Pub landlord's call to ex-Post Office boss - inquest

An inquest into the death of a pub landlord has heard from the former head of the Post Office, who had received a phone call from him on the morning of a devastating blaze.

Hervé Louis Appert, 63, had set fire to the Chequers Inn in Wootton near Bedford, before armed officers attended on the morning of 19 September.

Paula Vennells, who lived nearby and had known Appert for two years, said he had called her that morning to apologise for ignoring her.

In a statement read to Ampthill Coroners' Court on Wednesday, Vennells said Appert "was someone who freely talked about his mental health issues and was a troubled individual".

The inquest this week heard that Appert had shot himself with a crossbow at the rear of the building after a standoff with police, and died of his injuries in hospital two days later.

In a statement read to the inquest by coroner Bina Patel, Vennells recalled Louis, as he was known, as being "in good spirits and positive".

She said that after the call she messaged him to say how nice it was to hear his voice again and that he had been missed.

Her statement revealed that he replied: "Goodbye my friends, I have gone away, maybe try and stay in touch with Sue and Robin for a little while. I will miss you both."

In response, Vennells said she sent him a voice note inviting him round for fish and chips, which they had never done before, but received no reply.

Two hours later, she phoned Sue "as a duty of care and concern for Louis" and learned from her that the pub was on fire.

"Many of us have known for quite some time that he wanted to end his own life," her statement - dated 20 September - added.

On Wednesday, the hearing was told Appert had previously spoken of suicidal thoughts and had been sectioned in the past - and had also received counselling for his mental health.

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Susan Levy, a former partner and close friend of Appert for 20 years, told the inquest he had been let down by the local community mental health team.

She said his calls were not responded to, he had lost faith in the system and he had sought help elsewhere.

Fiona Whittell, from the East London Foundation NHS Trust, which provides mental health services in Bedfordshire, told the inquest that improvements had been made, including a review of systems and staff training.

Appert's cause of death was given as traumatic brain injury and extensive burns.

The coroner has adjourned the inquest to 28 July when she will deliver her conclusion.

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