A mother with financial problems took her own life while her children were at school, an inquest heard.
Amy Manning was 32 when she was found dead at home on 17 January 2024.
Her partner, a police officer, went to check on her and found her in their bedroom.
Assistant Coroner Stephen Cavell said, “it was clear she could not be saved.”
The court heard Ms Manning had been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).
She had also used alcohol and cocaine shortly before her death.
EUPD, also called borderline personality disorder, causes trouble regulating emotions, unstable relationships, and impulsive behaviour.
Friends and family described her as a good mother, a hard worker and a talented hairdresser.
Her mental health worsened during the Covid lockdown, her family said.
They told the inquest lockdown had a “significant impact on her mental health.”
After becoming pregnant she arranged an abortion, saying she did not feel able to raise a child amid emotional and financial strain.
Her on-and-off partner, Sam Plumley, a Dorset Police officer, gave evidence about the relationship.
He said the relationship had been “difficult” before her death.
“She had started drinking a lot more alcohol and she appeared to seem more unwell and was struggling with her mental health,” he told the court.
He said he tried to give her space while still offering support.
Mr Plumley said he had been messaging Ms Manning the night before she died.
She was cutting a friend’s hair then, and he said he had no worries for her welfare.
The next morning she did not reply, so he visited the property at about 12.30pm.
Using his key to enter, he found she had barricaded the bedroom and hanged herself.
He called for an ambulance, laid her on the bed and hugged her while waiting for help to arrive.
Paramedics recorded they did not attempt resuscitation because of “obvious death features.”
Her death was declared at 1.00pm, six minutes after paramedics arrived.
The inquest heard Ms Manning’s GP described her as having “chronic suicidal thoughts.”
However, the GP said she was not considered “actively suicidal.”
The GP cited her desire to look after her children as a protective factor.
Susan Hawker, a psychiatric nurse with the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, gave evidence in court.
She said Ms Manning faced serious financial problems, had missed rent payments and had not paid a water bill.
“She was clear to me she wanted to look after her sons who were the protective factor,” Ms Hawker said.
Mr Plumley faced questions about allegations he had taken money from Ms Manning’s account.
He admitted borrowing from her several times but said he always repaid the money.
“If there was money from her account it was never not put back in, nothing was ever taken out without her knowledge,” he said.
He told the court there was a two-month period when it happened a few times, but it was not common over four years.
Asked if he borrowed money in the month before her death he said: “No, I couldn’t accurately answer that, I don’t think so.”
Their elder son handed a phone to police, asking them to examine messages between his mother and Mr Plumley.
Police found no messages that explained why Ms Manning took her own life.
They said, “What was evident was a lack of trust.”
Avon and Somerset Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and no evidence of any criminal offence by Mr Plumley.
In his findings, Mr Cavell recorded that Amy had a good family relationship, was a committed mother and had a strong work ethic.
He noted she had been diagnosed with EUPD, anxiety and depression, and came to the attention of mental health services in 2020.
The coroner said the disorder can involve compulsive behaviour, which alcohol and cocaine may have worsened.
Under the influence of substances and facing financial and emotional pressure, she made an impulsive decision to suspend herself.
Mr Cavell concluded that Amy intended to end her life and recorded a verdict of suicide.