The brothers of Barnaby Spicer, a man who died weeks after being released from a mental health facility, have accused an NHS trust of abandonment. Spicer, aged 45, was discharged from Redwoods Centre in Shrewsbury in November 2024 without a community treatment order despite a history of psychosis. His family claims this decision led to his tragic demise shortly thereafter.
Spicer's release marked the end of more than 15 years under the care of the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which had previously kept him under a community treatment order. Within a week of his release, Spicer assaulted an officer and appeared at a homeless centre in Shrewsbury in a distressed state. His brothers expressed concerns about his safety given his history of violence when off medication.
Greg Spicer described his brother as non-violent, emphasizing that his behavior was a result of untreated psychosis. Both brothers drew parallels between Barnaby’s case and another high-profile incident involving Valdo Calocane, who committed multiple murders in Nottingham in 2023.
"Barney wasn't a violent person," said Greg Spicer.
"He had been abandoned by the NHS trust," stated Luke Spicer, echoing his brother’s sentiment.
The family has called for a coroner in Shropshire to conduct an article 2 inquest to ensure a thorough investigation. Luke Spicer revealed he had previously contacted the trust with grave warnings about his brother's care, which went unheeded.
"It was sent on 4 December saying if you don't treat Barney better, he will end up dead – those were my exact words – and ten days later he was dead," Luke Spicer explained.
Cathy Riley, managing director of the trust, extended her condolences to the Spicer family during this challenging period. The Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has initiated an internal inquiry into the case and offered their sympathies to the grieving family.
Leave a Reply