AN inquest jury has returned a suicide verdict in the case of a young dad who killed himself in a mental health unit.

Ben Morris, 20, hanged himself in his room at the Linden Centre, Chelmsford, the inquest heard.

The jury decided Mr Morris, originally from Maldon, took his own life on December 28, 2008. Mr Morris, father to a two-year-old daughter named Destiny, killed himself before the centre had a chance to work out how to properly control his condition, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Morris had no alcohol or recreational drugs in his bloodstream when he died – just atomoxetine, used to treat his condition.

The jury’s verdict was that he killed himself “by hanging, while his balance of his mind was disturbed and before his illness was properly diagnosed or the centre had put together a care plan to control the disorder”.

Mr Morris grew up in Maldon and was a pupil at the Anglo European School in Ingatestone, later moving to Harlow.

Mr Morris’s mother, Lisa, 40, of Burns Close, Maldon, said: “This has brought me no closure whatsoever.

“I don’t think it was a fair or thorough inquest.

“More witnesses were on the list to be called, but the coroner decided not to call them in the end – I don’t know why.”

Miss Morris is planning to set up a charity or a boxing club in Ben’s name.