AN army veteran took a fatal overdose after developing Gulf War Syndrome following service in Iraq, an inquest heard.

Cpl Christian Walmsley was found dead wearing his five war medals after taking an overdose comprising three different medications at his flat in Rose Hill Close, Bromley Cross, on November 6 last year.

The 42-year-old had served in the armed forces in Iraq in the First Gulf War, in Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Angola in an 11-year career which started in 1989 when he joined the Royal Engineers.

An inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court yesterday was told how father-of-three Cpl Walmsley had lived in Germany for four years with his brother Mark.

There he had access to a cannabis-based drug, Sativek, a spray designed to reduce the pain he experienced from fibromyalgia.

But that drug is not available in the UK and Cpl Walmsley returned to Bolton in 2013 unable to continue taking it.

He had come back in a bid to resume contact with his three children.

The court was told that Cpl Walmsley was denied access to the children after returning from Germany, and was offered contact through solicitors only, an option he did not take up.

His stepfather Michael Richards told the court he questioned the support given to ex-service personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), saying they need to be made top priority.

Mr Richards said: "To my mind it is precisely these people who have been in the armed services who need help the most, which I don't think is fully recognised in this country at a professional level.

"I have known people in the same position as Chris who say that not enough is being done for ex-servicemen in his position."

Cpl Walmsley's brother Mark, also a former servicemen, said there was no diagnosis of PTSD in the army in the early 1990s, as the culture was that servicemen did not report such feelings.

The court heard that Cpl Walmsley had earlier overdosed in July, 2014, at his parents' house.

He had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but had not been satisfied with the care he received in the UK.

He was referred to undertake cognitive behavioural therapy, but left one session just 15 minutes into the hour allocated, asking that he be referred to a psychiatric nurse instead, which the court heard is not common practice with PTSD sufferers in this country.

He also self-referred to a veteran's therapy session, run in Bury by Pennine Acute Trust, but did not take up the offer.

In the run-up to his death, Cpl Walmsley had moved into his own flat, and was said to be in a more upbeat mood.

He had undergone five sessions of therapy with Philip Schofield, a psychiatric nurse, which the court heard had been "successful", although there were still days when Cpl Walmsley never got out of bed.

At 4.51am on the morning before his death, he sent the second of two text messages to his mother, Pauline Richards, which said that she did not need to worry, that he had a "weird night" with pain, and he would explain all tomorrow.

Ruling death by misadventure, coroner Alan Walsh said the message, combined with the medical knowledge required to know that the mix of drugs would constitute an overdose, showed he did not intend to take his own life.

He added that the notes left by Cpl Walmsley, which referred to "end of life", were not dated and therefore did not constitute proof of suicidal intention.

Mr Walsh said: "He had served his country in the Gulf War, in Bosnia on two occasions, in India and in Germany.

"He was well regarded, particularly in the final stages of his army career in relation to his work in communications."

On PTSD among soldiers, he added: "I do believe it is important that we acknowledge the stress the disorder causes and the total change it causes to someone's life.

"Those who do serve in the armed forces witness experiences beyond their imagination."

Nofie Johnstone, acting senior manager for urgent care and mental health services with Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, told the court that the service had conducted a review after Cpl Walmsley's death, with recommendations to improve communication between GPs and mental health personnel.