Paul Kilminster

A DISABLED man left a note in his flat to be found after his death which said his benefit payments had been taken away and he was worried about being evicted from his flat.

Avid astrologer Paul Kilminster, 66, was found dead at his home in Windsor House in Cumberland Market on the Regent’s Park estate.

An inquest held at St Pancras Coroner’s Court last Wednesday was told that his right leg had been amputated below the knee in his late teens following a motorcycle accident.

Assistant coroner Edwin Buckett told the hearing that there were no suspicious circumstances and that his conclusion was that Mr Kilminster had taken his own life.

He said that notes found at the property showed he was “worried about being evicted, loneliness and being on benefits”.

Mr Buckett said: “He was also worried about his memory problems and being on medication.

“There is no third party involvement here, but the police did find something in the flat that indicated Mr Kilminster was in financial trouble.”

Mr Buckett added: “He had recently had his benefits taken away and was worried.”

The inquest heard that Mr Kilminster had suffered from depression since the accident.

After the inquest, his partner, Irene Charlery, said she felt he had been “failed” after his benefits were taken away.

“Paul would say being disabled was experiencing a form of discrimination,” she said. “He was constantly worried about his money being stopped. It was a big thing for him – he didn’t want to lose his flat, they’d stopped paying his benefits and he was worried about being evicted. It really got him down.

“I don’t think he was plugged into the right services that would have helped him in the way that he needed.”

Mr Kilminster lost part of his leg when he was a teenager

Mr Kilminster was a long-term member of the Astrological Lodge of London in Park Road, Regent’s Park.

Ms Charlery said: “He was very spiritual, he believed in the afterlife and reincarnation, he used to speak about that at length. He was very intelligent, the things he knew, he knew a whole lot about.

“He liked the sense of community in the society and spoke a lot about the different people he encountered there.

“He would read charts for people and tell them when was a good time to buy or sell or put in an offer for a house.

“Once someone had lost their dog and they came to him with dates for him to put together a chart.”

A lover of the outdoors, Mr Kilminster enjoyed walks and picnics in Regent’s Park and fishing trips to Sheerness, only returning to London when it was too dark or cold.

His partner said: “He loved to be near the water, grass or amongst the trees, things a lot of people take for granted.

“He was a quiet person who didn’t like confrontation or trouble. He was a really good man, calm and generous. Entirely loveable, anyone who knew him would say the same thing.”

Pat Stack, chair of Camden Disability Action Board, warned of the impact of removing benefits relating to disability and housing.

“It is shocking because those benefits become a key part of somebody’s income – to function from day to day.

“If they are withdrawn they can have a devastating effect and it sounds in this case it did have an absolutely devastating effect.

“People on those benefits even if they may never lose them feel the real stress whenever they are told there is a review of their benefits when logically they shouldn’t have anything to fear.

“They know it is quite possible that their benefits may be taken away, even though everything would suggest they need every penny they are getting.”

Mr Stack added: “This was happening under the last government and it continues to happen.

“There is this notion that a lot of people who are on benefits are playing the system. There has been an obsession with people being on disability benefits and quite often it’s based on very little.

“At the CDA we have an advice service that deals with benefits and we do as much as we can to publicise what is available – but the truth is there will be people who have lived very independently on disability benefits and suddenly find that lifeline withdrawn.”

The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed to the New Journal that Mr Kilminster’s Employment Support Allowance was taken away because he reached the pension age. Pensioners cannot receive ESA.

A DWP spokesperson said: “Our sincerest condolences are with Paul Kilminster’s friends and family.

“Ensuring vulnerable customers get the support they need throughout their entire benefit journey is vital, which is why we have improved our processes.”

If you are struggling:

Samaritans
You can contact their help line 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Call for free on 116123 or you can email [jo@samaritans.org](mailto:jo@samaritans.org)

Camden Disability Action
CDA run an information and advice line from 10am to 4pm.
Call 020 3833 1125
or text on 07543 572793

National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK
Offers supportive listening service. Call on 0800 587 0800 from 6pm to midnight.

Camden Crisis Sanctuary
Face to face, telephone and online support to Camden residents every evening and weekend, 5pm to 10.30pm.
Call 07825 165464 between 5pm and 11pm.