Mel B’s bodyguard was found hanged in military uniform after battling PTSD, inquest hears
An inquest heard former Royal Marine Commando and celebrity bodyguard Corporal Ashley Nickless took his own life after a battle with post-traumatic stress disorder
A former Royal Marine Commando and celebrity bodyguard took his own life after a battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, an inquest heard today.
Corporal Ashley Nickless, known as Ash, who was found hanging at home wearing his ceremonial blues uniform and medals on November 22.
The Afghan war veteran, 31, who left the Royal Marines four years ago, worked as a bodyguard to stars including Spice Girl Mel B and the cast of The Only Way is Essex.
An inquest into his death today heard that Nickless was discovered by a friend at his home in Llysfaen, in Conwy, on November 22 2019, after she became concerned by worrying text messages he had sent her, reports the Daily Post.
Police and the emergency services were called and efforts made to save his life, but he was later pronounced dead, his inquest in Ruthin heard today.
A post-mortem examination found there were traces of alcohol, cocaine and a drug to treat Malaria in his system – which he contracted while working in security in Sierra Leone, in Africa, after he left the military.
Dr Andrew Dalton, who carried out the examination, concluded he died of asphyxiation, due to suspension.
The inquest heard the 31-year-old joined the Royal Marines Commando in 2007. He saw friends killed while on a tour in Afghanistan which also left him with shrapnel in his arm and he witnessed other disturbing sights.
Mr Nickless, who was born in St Asaph, was discharged in 2017 with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but continued to experience mental health problems including flashbacks, panic attacks and nightmares. He had also spilt from his partner.
He had suffered issues with anxiety and paranoia earlier in his life and after his military discharge, his family became “scared of his behaviour”, the hearing heard.
He had mounting debts and there had been recent incidents where he had tried to take his life – in October and November 2 2019.
Mr Nickless had raised issues trying to access GP services before his death and his family, who were present at the inquest, questioned why he had not been sectioned or given better support.
Three notes were found in his home, which assistant coroner for North Wales east and central, Elizabeth Dudley-Jones, said left her satisfied Mr Nickless had intended to take his own life.
She recorded a conclusion of suicide.
Ms Dudley-Jones passed on her condolences to family and friends adding: “I just hope that you can all support each other going forward.”
Mel B previously told The Mirror said his death is a “a damming indictment of the lack of help for those suffering PTSD who are in such desperate need”.
She added: “I talked a lot to Ash about PTSD. I suffer from it as a result of an emotional abusive marriage and he suffered from it as a result of what he went through and what he saw in war zones.
“I met Ash more than a year ago because he looked after my daughter Phoenix. He watched out for her like she was his own daughter. She loved him.
“I remember thinking, ‘this man would take a bullet for my child’. Our worlds were so different, but we had a connection.
“When I had to do a tour for my book, Brutally Honest, I wanted him by my side because it was tough for me and he understood trauma on every level. He was with me in the run up to the Spice Girls tour, too.”
Mel said Ash became “part of the family” and it made her cry to think that he had tried to get help only to have doors slammed in his face.
She said: “I guess I now just think, ‘why didn’t he call me?’ But I know he was so very proud and he wanted everyone to believe he could cope. That is devastating.”
Dad-of-one Ash, who served in 45 Commando, was in the army for 12 years. He also worked as a bodyguard for celebs including Ross Kemp and the cast of Towie.
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