Former Leeming Bar soldier took own life, coroner rules

Scott James McNeice, 40, was discharged from the Army on medical grounds after he had his leg amputated following a training injury.

In 2018 he represented Team UK in six sports at the 2018 Sydney Invictus Games.

He died at his home in Leeming Bar on April 22 after 18 months of mental-health problems and depressive episodes.

At his inquest at Northallerton Coroner’s Court on Thursday, September 17, assistant coroner Dr Gill Kane said Mr McNeice joined the Army in 2003, served as a healthcare assistant in the Army Nursing Corps and completed tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He injured his knee during a training exercise in 2017 and chose to have his leg amputated after 12 operations, complications and an infection.

Scott James McNeice

The Army medically discharged him in 2019.

The inquest heard after leaving the Army, Mr McNeice struggled with his mental health and used alcohol to cope. He also represented Team UK in six sports at the 2018 Sydney Invictus Games, winning medals in archery, volleyball and wheelchair rugby.

Later in 2018, the Armed Forces Para Snowsports Team introduced him to snowboarding and described him as “having an interest in many activities”.

The inquest heard that Mr McNeice was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital on February 9, 2025, after experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Staff found he posed no immediate risk and discharged him.

On April 9, 2025, he was taken by ambulance to Darlington Memorial Hospital after self-harming.

Scott James McNeice

But he left before staff could carry out an initial assessment.

The inquest heard that Mr McNeice saw GP Dr Rufus Barraclough in person on April 10, was diagnosed with a depressive disorder and given antidepressants.

Dr Barraclough told the inquest that Mr McNeice was “low in mood” and that he referred him to mental-health services.

“During that appointment, Mr McNeice didn’t give any indication that he had suicidal thoughts, and I diagnosed him with a depressive disorder and gave him antidepressants,” Dr Barraclough said.

Scott James McNeice

The coroner told the inquest that Mr McNeice’s ex-partner, Caitlin, received a ‘worrying’ WhatsApp message on April 21 and went to his home in Leeming Bar.

She brought a neighbour with her, and they found Mr McNeice snoring in bed before leaving.

When they returned the next day, they found Mr McNeice on the bed and not breathing.

Emergency services attended, and Mr McNeice was pronounced dead just before 5pm.

Assistant coroner Dr Gill Kane said she was “satisfied that Mr McNeice was given the help, advice and support” and that the “risk factor had been weighed up” by the medical professionals who treated him.

Dr Kane recorded Mr McNeice’s death as suicide.

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