Our son's tragic loss of life could have been avoided', say parents of autistic Milton Keynes man whose death went unnoticed for nine months

The parents of tragic Roy Curtis say his inquest has not brought them the justice they seek.
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Roy, 28, who changed his name from Ayman Habayeb, took his own life in his Ashlands flat and his mummified body was not discovered until nine months later.

Under the care of MK Council social services as a vulnerable adult, he had refused to have contact with his parents Fuad and Anabela after moving from the family home into supported living several years previously.

Heartbroken at their son's decision and questioning his capacity to make it, the couple made constant efforts to change his mind. They made social media appeals and recruited lawyers as well as the Salvation Army in a bid to trace him.

Roy (Ayman) with mum AnabelaRoy (Ayman) with mum Anabela
Roy (Ayman) with mum Anabela

But the 'no contact' rule written down by social services meant they were forbidden to know where he lived - even though his flat was just five miles away from their Stantonbury home.

"If we had been allowed to see him, we would have helped him," Anabela told the Citizen.

"We don’t know why social services would not let us see him at all. They kept saying he had capacity to make this decision, but we disagreed with that,” said dad Fuad.

In August last year the couple were told their son was dead. As if that was not bad enough, they learned the death had happened up to nine months previously and his body had lain in his bedroom, undetected, for all that time.

A montage of pictures from the grieving parentsA montage of pictures from the grieving parents
A montage of pictures from the grieving parents

It was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition by a bailiff calling at the flat to claim unpaid rent.

Today senior coroner Tom Osborne ruled an opportunity was missed to save Roy's life due to failures by social services and mental health services in MK.

The three day inquest heard how Roy had become depressed and anxious after being told he must attend a fit-to-work assessment to keep claiming his benefits.

He was admitted to the Campbell Centre, but discharged without a formal multidisciplinary discharge plan in place.

Social services also failed to check his wellbeing, with a representative of Milton Keynes Council admitting to the inquest that nobody had ever gone to visit Roy at his home.

Social services closed his case in December 2018, after he failed to respond to letters. But by that time, unbeknown to them, Roy had already been dead for a month.

Mr Osborne said: "The deceased who was diagnosed with an autistic spectrum condition in 2012 was admitted to the Campbell Centre in Milton Keynes on September 13 2018 after declaring his intention to take his own life.

"He was discharged from the Campbell Centre and then from the home treatment team without a formal multidisciplinary discharge plan.

"There was also a failure to complete an adult social care assessment that resulted in a lost opportunity to assess his needs and offer him support. He died from suicide ...on or about November 18 2018 And his body was discovered on August 21 2019 "

After the hearing Roy's parents said: "The coroner was fair and thorough through out the hearing. The inquest was very difficult for us to witness. Not only did we have to re-live the last episode of our son life, the circumstance of his tragic death, but we had to listen to what supposed to be his carers admitting to their failures, one by one."

They added: " It was tragic loss of life, which could have been avoided, of an intelligent and gifted young man ... The memory of his brilliance, sense of humour and cheeky boy demeanour will always live in our heart.

"The inquest could not bring us the justice that we seek not only for him but for us and all his extended family. This tragic incident not only has exposed the inadequacies and incompetence within MKC but the fact that his body remained undiscovered for nine months."

Fuad and Anabela say MK Council has not acknowledged them or the rest of his family or offered support.

"Not even an apology... For us justice means that the people responsible for his death need to be accountable for it," they said.

Suicide is preventable and support is available, such as Samaritans’ helpline. When life is difficult, Samaritans are there – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at [email protected], or visit their website to find your nearest branch.