Coroner to raise concerns over “draconian” financial restraint orders after inquest into death of father-of-four

A coroner has concluded that Garry Mills took his own life after experiencing stress and anxiety while living under a financial restraint order that restricted his family financially. 

Recording a narrative conclusion, Mr Darren Stewart OBE found that both a lengthy police investigation into Garry and the restraint order imposed on his family weighed heavily on his mental health in the period before his death. 

A four-day inquest into Garry’s death was held at Surrey Coroner’s Court, concluding 2 February 2026.  

The coroner also indicated they will issue a Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General, raising concerns that the CPS continues to rely on outdated guidance – unchanged since 2009 – when proposing minimum living expense limits in restraint orders, despite the significant rise in the cost of living. 

Garry died on 6 September 2021 aged 46. Garry, who lived in Surrey with his wife and four children had been under investigation by West Midlands Police. 

He was arrested on 8 September 2020, interviewed, and released under investigation the following day. On 28 September 2020, the CPS applied without notice for a financial restraint order, which was granted by the Crown Court restricting ordinary living expenses to £250 per week.  

The inquest heard that the £250 a week figure was routinely used as a starting point and restraint orders were described during evidence as “harsh” and “draconian”. The figure is set out in CPS guidance, and has not been updated for more than a decade. 

Written evidence from Garry’s wife described the devastating impact the order had on the family’s finances and wellbeing – that they could no longer afford to pay their mortgage and bills, and were forced to rely on relatives for essential support. 

The inquest also heard that the process for applying to vary a restraint order is complex and requires specialist legal advice, and no application to increase the weekly limit was made before Garry’s death. 

By July 2021, Garry was informed the police investigation would likely continue for at least another year. Evidence from his wife said this was the “final straw”, and that his mental health deteriorated significantly afterwards. 

In the record of inquest, the coroner concluded that the restraint order, which impacted the family’s standard of living, and ongoing police investigation "weighed heavily” on Garry, and was “likely to have influenced” his decision to take his own life. 

Garry’s wife is represented by Yvonne Kestler and Charlotte Baldwin, human rights solicitors at law firm Leigh Day. 

Garry’s wife said: 

“Garry was a proud, loving husband and father who worked hard to provide for us. Being placed under a restraint order that left our family trying to survive on £250 a week devastated him. 

“The uncertainty of the investigation, the financial pressure, and the sense of hopelessness it created completely broke the man we knew. We were left struggling to pay our bills, support our children, and keep our lives together, and Garry felt like he was failing us. 

“We miss him every day, and we don’t want any other family to go through the same ordeal. We hope the coroner’s report leads to real change so that people are not pushed to breaking point by a system that is meant to protect justice, not destroy lives.” 

Charlotte Baldwin said:  

“This inquest has highlighted the very serious impact that financial restraint orders can have on individuals and families, particularly when they are imposed at an unrealistically low level and remain in place for months or even years.  

“The coroner recognised that the restraint order and the prolonged investigation weighed heavily on Garry’s mental health, and it is especially concerning that the starting point for ordinary living expenses appears to be based on outdated CPS guidance that has not been updated for more than a decade.” 

Yvonne Kestler said: 

“The coroner’s decision to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report is a crucial step. There must now be urgent consideration of whether the limits in financial restraint orders are appropriate in today’s cost of living, and whether greater safeguards are needed to prevent families being placed under extreme financial and emotional strain.”