A nurse who was subjected to a “toxic” relationship with another man that apparently led to physical abuse took his own life, an inquest has concluded.

Jerrick Gomez struggled with religious delusions, low mood and behaved erratically in the days leading up to his death, Winchester Coroners Court heard.

On April 5 2025, the 36-year-old, from Stamshaw, Portsmouth, was involved in a collision with a silver hatchback on the A3 southbound, and died in Southampton General Hospital four days later. The court heard how Gomez, who was walking along the pavement, deliberately caused an incident for which the driver had no time to react.

It came following a tumultuous relationship with a man who was not named in court, but apparently had an assault case in court, was in debt to drug dealers and had a history of violent behaviour - and that Jerrick felt “trapped” with him.

In the years prior, Gomez had been living in the Philippines with his wife and child, but came out as gay separated and moved to Portsmouth

Giving evidence in court, eyewitnesses spoke of how Jerrick leapt in front of a passing car. That vehicle, and others in the area, immediately stopped as motorists administered first aid and contacted emergency services.

The court was told that Gomez had been in an Uber from his home in Stamshaw up to London Waterloo, but got out of the taxi near Bramshott. He then crossed the road to reach the southbound carriageway, and was walking along the adjacent pavement.

Forensic collision investigators found the vehicle involved to have no contributing factors to the incident, and that the collision centres around Gomez’s actions.

Speaking in court, one of Gomez’s friends and ex-partner, Andrew Godfrey-Collins, described how the nurse had become “heightened and irrational” as a result of this new relationship.

Mr Godfrey-Collins said: “Jerrick told me it was the worst relationship he had been in. He said a number of things that raised alarm bells, including the partner threatening his dog with a knife and asking for money - but never paying him back.

“It became apparent to me that this partner was ‘love-bombing’ Jerrick. When I saw Jerrick on March 7, he was losing his grip on reality; everything in my home that had eyes, he turned around.

“The last time we spoke was on April 4. He was talking about the partner, saying we had been to harsh on them. He said they might get back together and I expressed my concerns.”

In his statement, Mr Godfrey-Collins alleged that this partner even used Gomez’s email to tender a letter of resignation to his place of work. He went on to describe Gomez as a “gentle” person who tragically ended up down a dark path.

“Jerrick was always laughing,” he added. “He was so gentle and quite sensitive of criticism, while also being very critical of himself and his decision-making.

“He would express having low mood, but on the whole you would think he was somebody who wouldn’t hurt a fly, and you wouldn’t think anything unusual of him.”

Appearing in court via video link, Gomez’s widow, Jo-Anne Gomez, spoke more about the relationship her husband had with this unnammed partner, and the toll it took on him.

She also explained that he visited her for a week shortly before his death, and had told her he planned to sever ties with the man, bring her and their daughter over to the UK and begin life as a family unit once more.

In a tearful statement, she said: “When he came to the Philippines, he said he wanted to reconcile and give our relationship another chance. In the four days he stayed in our home he told me he felt afraid and unsafe, and that he was somehow being manipulated by this man. He had even experienced physical abuse from that guy.

“He was not allowed to leave the house and it was clear he was very distressed, and fearful. I reassured him that he was safe and asked him to stay in the Philippines - but Jerrick was worried about providing a better future for our daughter. He planned to return to the UK and arrange for us to join him, so we could live together as a family.

“I thought our family would be okay.”

In the months before his death, Gomez had made prior attempts on his life and been to A&E on two occasions. He was referred to the crisis management team, but declined their services.

Concluding the inquest, coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp said: “For whatever reason, I think he had a lot on his shoulders, all at once, and saw this as the only way out. It’s not a reflection of how he felt about anybody he was leaving behind, but a reflection of how he felt in himself.

“He sadly died in hospital, and given the evidence we’ve heard I think this man indented to take his own life.”

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