A tormented ex-soldier killed himself when he feared 'losing everything' after he was caught drink driving on the day he was due to call his mother on Mothering Sunday.
Devoted son James Rigby, 23, had promised to contact Karen Hupton, who was away, to say he loved her - but she became worried when he failed to ring her.
His brother Andrew was contacted due to concerns for James's welfare - and the former Kingsman was found hanged at the home he shared with his mother in Tyldesley, Greater Manchester.
It emerged factory worker James had been arrested in the early hours on the day of his death after being found one and a half times the alcohol limit when he failed a roadside breath test just a mile from his home.
He left a final message on his Facebook page on March 31 this year which read: ''2019 what a year....'' and it is feared he had been drinking heavily after being released from police cells following five hours in custody.
Police found up to 40 beer bottles, a Jack Daniels bottle and a rum bottle all empty in his bedroom. A Go-Fund-Me appeal set up by James friends later raised £11,155 in aid of the suicide charity Crisis.
An inquest heard James had joined the Army at 16 and was based at Catterick garrison, North Yorks but he went AWOL three years later during a secret battle against depression.
It is believed MoD officers were unaware of his illness and the youngster was sent to a military prison.
In a statement read to the Bolton hearing, his brother Andrew Rigby said: “He went AWOL and would not tell us why. He left and had to go into military prison for some time, but looking back I think this was where his problems began.
''He had never discussed a lot with us and tended to keep a lot bottled up. But he later found work locally making bandages, and that was something he really loved. He was every inch the life and soul of the party.
''I thought that his life was coming back together when he got back with his girlfriend but it seemed to me that they were always the arguing type.
"They split up again three to four weeks before his death but James’s life seemed to be sorting out - with a job he enjoyed. His girlfriend may have split up with him - but everyone knew they would get back together.
Mr Rigby added: "Mum was leaving to go on a trip and James said to have a good time and that he loved her. She had rung him and she said he seemed fine and was sure he would ring her tomorrow.
''She knew James would ring her on the Sunday to give her his love on Mother’s Day. But on March 31, James told me he had been arrested for driving under the influence.
"He rang me after he was released but he seemed to be his usual self and told me he had been chatting up a female police officer. However he told me not to tell our mum what had happened.
''I rang again about 2pm but thought he’d probably be in bed when I got no answer. However I got a call from mum and she was worried because James hadn’t rung her and she told me she felt something was wrong.
''I got butterflies in my stomach but couldn’t get an answer. I used a key to get inside and saw James. Dad got to the house and we were beside ourselves. Neither of us could believe it, everything was just a blur.
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"Dad did CPR and both of us were crying and he had to be dragged off him by the ambulance staff. Without doubt it’s the most awful experience we must have gone through.
"I find it hard to sleep because I keep replaying it over and over again. We have been deeply traumatised by what had happened we would give anything to have our wonderful James with us.”
James's best friend Josh Lynch said in a statement: ''James suffered from depression when he came out of the army but everyone thought that he was feeling much happier. He told me he had been at the police station all night and kept saying he had lost everything.
“I told him not to think about doing anything stupid and I was a bit shocked at what he was saying - but I didn’t take it seriously because I thought he was just really down about what happened. I never thought he was actually going to kill himself.”
Tests showed James had 181 microgrammes of alcohol per litre of blood in his system. The alcohol limit in blood for drink-driving is 80mg.
Senior investigating officer Philip Housley said: ''James had no known mental health illnesses. At 12.50am he had been arrested one mile from his home address after blowing a positive roadside breath test reading of 56.
"He was taken to Wigan custody office. There was a note on the custody record saying the detained person has no thoughts of self harm. He was charged and released at 5.30am.
''James’s bedroom was searched and the officer counted 35 to 40 beer bottles, a Jack Daniels bottle and a rum bottle all empty in his room.
I'm told James had not seen his doctor since leaving the army. Although he expressed that he was depressed but hadn’t sought any help.
"He hadn’t expressed suicidal thoughts while in custody. There was no evidence of anything on part of the initial arrest or detaining officer.''
Recording a conclusion of death by suicide coroner Simon Nelson, said: “I take the view that this may well have been an act on the part of James Rigby that would have been spontaneous.
"He may well not have thought of the consequences in relation to the effects of his catastrophic actions upon those who are close to him and his own personal consequences.''
