Actor took own life after property sale foul-up

A TELEVISION actor took his own life after becoming depressed at being unable to sell his home, an inquest heard.

Colin Tarrant, who played Inspector Andrew Monroe in ITV’s The Bill for more than a decade, found out the sale of his London house had fallen through for a second time a day before he attempted suicide.

The 59-year-old was found by his partner in the bathroom of his home in Bristol on the morning of 25 January.

The father of two had suffered a number of knife wounds, the inquest in Flax Bourton, near Bristol, was told yesterday.

Mr Tarrant was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary but died the following day.

The hearing heard that the actor had been trying without success to sell his former home in London.

On 24 January he visited his GP with his partner Sabrina Morris because he had been feeling depressed about his financial problems.

Detective Constable Adam Smith said in a statement read to the court: “Mr Tarrant had not been sleeping and according to Sabrina Morris had become extreme in his behaviour.

“Miss Morris was unable to reason with him and according to Miss Morris, Mr Tarrant had become unwilling to listen to advice on how to deal with the difficulties he was experiencing in selling a property.

“Mr Tarrant was given sleeping tablets and anti-depressants by his doctor.

“As Mr Tarrant left the surgery he received a telephone call informing him that the sale of his property had fallen through.”