'Real-life hero' shot himself with rifle on Portsmouth Royal Navy ship amid marriage breakdown, inquest hears

A Royal Navy sailor took his own life with an assault rifle after a breakdown in his marriage and sexual assault allegations became too 'painful' for him, an inquest heard.

Petty Officer Jon Errington Paxton took the keys from the duty officer while he was asleep after loading weapons onto the ship and used the rifle to end his life. PO Paxton was killed on board the minehunter HMS Cattistock while she was docked in Portsmouth after suffering from depression and anxiety.

The 38-year-old had recently gone through a divorce with his partner, and he had been accused of sexual assault while he was back home in Scotland. The father-of-three had debts of up to £25,000 and told his partner at the time that 'everybody would be better off without him'.

PO Paxton was found by fellow Navy personnel with a fatal gunshot wound. His death came 12 years after Samuel “Ricky” Hatton, 20, shot himself on the same warship at HMNB Portsmouth. The engineering technician had been affected by the death of Matthew “Spider” Webster, who died on board HMS Hurworth in February 2010.

At Portsmouth Coroner's Court, it was heard that PO Paxton had been going through a divorce from Verity Wyng at the time of his death and he was struggling with the 'marital breakdown'. Area Coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth, and Southampton, Jason Pegg, concluded that PO Paxton had committed suicide on April 19, 2023.

He said he had fired two rounds of ammunition, using an assault rifle on the ship. He added that in December 2022, PO Paxton had been arrested and charged with sexual assault while he was at home on medical unit discharge. He said he had pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the trial had not yet taken place. He had suffered from depression and anxiety, and he was deemed medically unfit for several months.

His mother, Linda said: "I absolutely loved him. He had a great sense of humour. A really good lad. He loved his kids, loved being a dad. He loved his job, absolutely loved it. He joined up when he was 19."

PO Paxton's brother, Ross, said: "Although he was a big, strong guy, he was a big kid. He was a lot more than a big brother to me; he was my best friend. He was young when he joined up. We were really close."

Ross said PO Paxton had struggled with his marriage breakdown and that he had said to him, 'the one thing he couldn't live with was another man living in his own house with his kids.'

His partner at the time, Clare Anderson, said she 'worried' about PO Paxton because he had told her that he was in 'pain'. In a statement to the inquest, she said: "He said that everybody was better off without him and that he couldn't live with the pain he was in."

Mr Pegg said: "He was 38 at the time of his death. He was a son, a brother, a nephew; he was also a father to his children, he had with Ms Wyng. At the time of Jon's death, he was in a relationship, from what I can see, a serious relationship. Jon was someone who had been brought up in Arbroath, in the East Coast of Scotland.

“He had gone off to join the Royal Navy in 2003 and it was clear it was a career he thoroughly enjoyed. He was a PO at the time, but he had his sights on acting up and promotion. Jon had been through a divorce. He did have access to his children, whether it was as much as he liked is not a matter for me.

"That was one of the things that had been going on in Jon's life and in his medical reports there was some depression and anxiety related to this. The Royal Navy had seen fit to keep him shoreside and non-operational for that time.

"Jon returned to Arborath in November, December, and while out in a local bar, Jon had consumed a substantial quantity of alcohol, and an allegation was made against him, and what the outcome of that allegation would have been is purely speculation.

"The impact of that allegation alone on Jon, who was in the Royal Navy and a father, did bring great shame. There were also some problems in the background, like a debt of £25,000, but that is something he could have overcome with his secure job."

Royal Navy Clearance Diver Matthew Moreton, who shared a cabin with PO Paxton, said that he had gone to sleep with the keys to the weapons storage on his belt. He said he was called to the weapons storage the following day, where a rifle was missing, along with ammunition and he found PO Paxton dead in the showers.

Mr Pegg added: "On 19 April 2023 Jon was on board HMS Cattistock, which was alongside in the naval base in Portsmouth. There were two rounds from the assault rifle when Jon depressed the trigger. I am satisfied that the weapon was in the automatic fire position. Jon had gained access to the rifle by taking the keys when the duty officer was asleep.”

Mr Pegg ruled that the weapons had been securely stored and that the ammunition had been securely stored separately from the weapons. He said: "The weapons were kept in a secure locker and the ammunition was kept separate from them, as it rightly should be. From the evidence I have before me, those weapons were kept securely."

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He added: "To Mr Paxton, Mrs Paxton, his extended family and Ms Anderson, you have my genuine, sincere condolences for your loss. I get the impression you were very proud of Jon. It seems to me he was a good father, a good son, he was serving his country in the Royal Navy. It seems that the type of character Jon was to his family, and the evidence from his executive officer, described Jon as a big character."

Speaking after the inquest, PO Paxton's brother, Ross, said: "My brother was a real-life hero and a great laugh. He loved music and dancing and having a wee sing song. A true definition of the life and soul of the Party. His presence was felt when he entered a room. He was a big guy and a solid character. His voice carried, he was always heard and turned heads wherever he went.

"His passion was playing Rugby with Totton club. He loved his sons and daughter to bits, his nephew and nieces too. Jon was a committed and dedicated Sailor in the Royal Navy. He served in the War in Libya with HMS Liverpool during Operation Unified Protector, and he served his country.

“He had built quite the life for himself down South, but his home was always Scotland, and he made sure this was known. His loss is felt deeply in all his friends and family, and we will miss him for the rest of our lives. There has not been a single day that has gone by these last three years that I haven't felt completely broken by the prospect of never seeing him again."

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article you can talk to your GP, phone 111 or text SHOUT to 85258.

When life is difficult, Samaritans are here to listen – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org. There is also a list of local services available here.

If you've been affected by suicide, Amparo is a dedicated support service providing practical and emotional support after bereavement. Call 0330 088 9255, email [email protected] or visit amparo.org.uk