The ex-wife of a Royal Navy sailor who died by suicide on a warship has voiced criticism of the service, questioning its decision to allow him back on board while he was experiencing depression and facing a sexual assault trial. Verity Wyng also raised concerns about the security of weapons storage on the vessel.

Jon Errington Paxton, 38, died by suicide in April 2023 aboard the minehunter HMS Cattistock while it was docked in Portsmouth, England. An inquest into his death heard that Paxton took the keys to a weapons storage locker from a sleeping colleague before using a rifle. He was found in a shower compartment on the warship.

The inquest revealed that Paxton had been struggling with depression, had accumulated £25,000 in debt, and had been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, which he denied. His divorce from Ms. Wyng was finalized just two weeks prior to his death.

Ms. Wyng stated that Paxton had previously been medically downgraded due to mental health issues and questioned why he was permitted to return to duty on the ship. She expressed disappointment with the Royal Navy, indicating she had hoped to gain answers for their three children at the inquest but felt she was not given the opportunity to raise her concerns.

Petty Officer Paxton, originally from Arbroath, Scotland, joined the Navy at age 19. He and Ms. Wyng married in 2014. His death occurred 12 years after another sailor, Samuel 'Ricky' Hatton, then 20, died by suicide on the same warship.

Ms. Wyng described her ex-husband as facing significant anguish and stress, noting his distress over the sexual assault proceedings. "He had been medically downgraded once previously why wasn’t this done at this point? Jon should have been taken off the ship until the sexual assault case against him was finalised," she said. "His managers knew he was very upset with the court proceedings."

She also questioned the security of the key to the ammunition locker, stating it was left on his trousers within reach of others. "There seems to be a lot of caution around signing weapons and ammunition in and out and the weapons being locked away, but I don’t understand why the keys are not locked away or signed over to somebody who can monitor them," Ms. Wyng said.

She reflected on the impact of the incident on her and the children, stating, "Had Jon not been on the ship at this time he would not have been able to do this. And if the keys had not been left out he would have not been able to do this. Both of these would have resulted in a potentially different outcome for Jon and our children."

Ms. Wyng added that the inquest, which lasted less than an hour, left her feeling let down and hoping for measures to prevent future occurrences. "I wish Jon had had the support he needed and this never happened as the effect on the children has been life changing," she said.

The inquest at Portsmouth Coroner's Court heard that the sexual assault accusation stemmed from an incident at a bar in Arbroath. Paxton had consumed a significant amount of alcohol. He was arrested in December 2022 and charged while on medical discharge in Scotland. The inquest was informed that he had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and a trial had not yet taken place.

Paxton's brother, Ross, stated that Jon struggled with his marriage breakdown, telling him that he could not bear the thought of another man living with his children. At the time of his death, Paxton's partner, Clare Anderson, expressed worry for him, recounting that he spoke of being in pain and that everyone would be "better off without him."

Area Coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, Jason Pegg, concluded that Petty Officer Paxton died by suicide. Mr. Pegg ruled that weapons and ammunition were securely stored, with the ammunition kept separately from the weapons. The Royal Navy was contacted for comment.