Ex‑wife Calls Out Royal Navy Over Sailor's Suicide and Security Lapses After Petty Officer Jon Errington Paxton killed himself aboard the minehunter HMS Cattistock in April 2023, his former wife, Verity Wyng, has publicly criticised the Royal Navy for allowing him back on board despite his mental health struggles and for lax weapons security. The case follows an inquest that found Paxton suffered from depression, debt and a pending sexual‑assault trial, and it highlights failures in the Navy's personnel management and storage protocols. The tragic death of Petty Officer Jon Errington Paxton, a 38‑year‑old sailor who was found dead aboard the minehunter HMS Cattistock while it lay in Portsmouth Harbour in April 2023, has prompted a furious response from his ex‑wife, Verity Wyng. Speaking out after an inquest last week, Wyng said the Royal Navy had a serious failure in allowing Paxton to return to duty despite a history of mental‑health problems and an ongoing sexual‑assault case. She further accused the Navy of lax security measures that permitted Paxton to obtain a key to a ammunition locker and, ultimately, to carry out a self‑injury.The guardian's report gives a full record of the events as heard in court, repeated statements by the deceased's family, and the Navy's response to the inquiries. During the inquest, witnesses testified that Paxton had been struggling with depression, an estimated £25,000 debt and an arrest for alleged sexual assault in December 2022. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges, though the trial had not yet taken place.Medical records showed that Paxton had previously been medically downgraded for his mental health and had been absent from duty for that reason. Yet, before his final death, the sailor was apparently allowed back onto the Cattistock. Wyng questioned why this decision was made, noting that her former husband's managers were aware of his distress and the looming court proceedings."He had been medically downgraded once before - why weren't we re‑deployed at that point? He should have been removed from the ship until the sexual assault case was resolved," Wyng said."His managers knew he was upset by the court proceedings. " The sailor's last act, an attempted suicide by gunshot, was discovered by a crew member who had found him in the ship's shower. He allegedly used the key to a weapons storage locker he had stolen from a sleeping colleague's belt. The weapon was a small firearm stored along with ammunition, and Wyng claims that the key was left indiscriminately on Paxton's trousers.She said the key could have been placed in secure custody or signed out, as is standard for handling dangerous ordnance."A key for the ammunition locker should have been kept more securely. It was left on his trousers within reach of not only Jon but anyone who entered that room," Wyng complained."There seems to be a lot of caution around signing weapons and ammunition in and out, but I don't understand why the keys are not locked away or signed over to somebody who can monitor them. " The coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, Dr. Jason Pegg, closed the case with a finding of suicide and confirmed that the weapons and ammunition were properly stored at the time.He also declared that the incident took place under the control of the Royal Navy. The Navy, which received a request for comment, issued a response underscoring its commitment to safety, but did not provide any specific details about the incident. Wyng also raised concerns about the impact on the sailor's three children, who were not present during the inquest."The inquest lasted less than an hour and I feel majorly let down for the children. I really hoped there would be measures recommended to stop this happening again," she said. She added, "I wish Jon had had the support he needed and this never happened - the effect on the children has been life‑changing." The Cattistock has a history of tragedy; in July 2011, a 20‑year‑old engineering technician, Samuel 'Ricky' Hatton, also took his own life aboard the same ship at Portsmouth Naval Base. That incident raised questions about crew welfare and support practices within the Royal Navy for years.In addition to Wyng's statements, other witnesses provided testimony. Paxton's brother, Ross, described the sailor's struggle with his marriage breakdown. His former partner, Clare Anderson, said Paxton confided that he was in pain and that everybody would be better off without him. In his defence, Paxton had argued that he was under severe emotional stress.Despite these testimonies, the inquest found that he committed suicide. The case is expected to spark a wider review of Royal Navy protocols, including personnel medical assessments, handling of weapons and ammunition, and the support systems available for sailors facing legal and psychological adversity. All parties are awaiting any changes that might help avoid another tragedy of this nature for the navy and the families it serves