Pub boss suffered mental health decline before death

A popular chef who killed himself after setting fire to his historic pub had felt "let down" by a community mental health team, a coroner has been told.

Hervé Louis Appert, 63, who was landlord of the 17th Century Chequers Inn in Wootton, near Bedford, shot himself with a crossbow on 19 September 2025, coroner Bina Patel heard.

But Patel, who on Tuesday finished overseeing an inquest in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, concluded that the mental health team issue had not caused Appert's death.

She said Appert, who was born in France and known as Louis, had a history of mental health difficulties. She concluded that he had committed suicide.

"There were issues identified with support from the community mental health team," said Patel.

"Louis understandably felt let down by the services because of a lack of follow up."

But she said the problem was not "causative of his death" and added: "A combination of issues in his personal life has caused the deterioration in his mental health."

The coroner said the mental health team issues had arisen in the early part of 2025 - about six months before his death.

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Patel was told that Appert's other "personal" difficulties included the death of a pet dog, problems with an electricity supply and a dispute with a neighbour.

The East London NHS Foundation Trusts and Scottish Power were represented at the inquest. The coroner made no criticism of either organisation but was told "changes had been made" since Appert died.

She decided that there was no need for her to make a Prevention of Future Deaths Report.

Patel was told that Appert had bipolar disorder and had previously attempted suicide.

She heard that he had "struggled" with a mental health decline over a "considerable" number of years - and had closed the pub in late 2024.

Appert had set fire to the Chequers Inn then shot himself after a standoff with police, the inquest heard.

He died in hospital two days later.

Friend Tara Malciw had received a text from Appert on the morning of 19 September, the inquest heard.

His message read: "Goodbye Tara you always brighten my day on your visits."

Malciw said she had immediately called police.

Patel told the inquest friends had described Appert as a "fantastic" chef.

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