Ex-soldier found dead with wife & dogs in suicide pact 'turned home into a fortress & made neighbours' lives a misery' | The Sun

AN EX-SOLDIER who died in a suicide pact with his wife turned his house into a "fortress" and made his neighbours lives a misery, it has been claimed.

Francis Collins, 36, and wife Cassie, 35, were founded dead at their secluded bungalow in Cullompton, Devon, on September 11, 2021,

The pair had only been in the West Country for a few months after moving from their farmhouse in Login, Carmarthenshire, west Wales.

But speaking for the first time since their deaths, his neighbours in Wales have claimed ex-Paratrooper Francis was "vile bully" who "went out of his way" to make others' lives a misery.

One told The Sun: "I know you shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. But Collins caused so much misery to so many people around here that I feel compelled to say the world is a better place without him in it."

An elderly couple claimed he subjected to a campaign of terror after they complained about one of his Doberman dogs trying to attack them.

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A villager said: "He’d put a fake machine gun on the bonnet of his Army jeep and park up in front of the couple’s home, blaring out loud music.

"He’d threaten them and send them vicious emails from fake accounts, but they knew it was him."

The alleged "constant" harassment forced them to sell up and move away.

HEAVY SECURITY

Neighbours claimed Francis put up signs which blasted "small people" for talking about "others".

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They also claimed floodlights were left on all night saying "it was like a football stadium".

In March 2020, Francis firebombed a neighbour's drive following a row in Login.

He was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress, Wales Online reported at the time.

The court reportedly heard he had six previous convictions for six offences.

The pair relocated to Devon shortly after Francis's release.

A local in their new village described the pair as "inseparable", adding: "You wouldn’t see them out often but when you did they were always walking together hand-in-hand.

“They often took their five dogs for long walks in the countryside around Cullompton and to the outside world they looked as though they didn’t have a care in the world."

SUICIDE PACT

At the inquest into their deaths at Exeter Coroner's Court on June 5, it was heard that the pair were soulmates.

Three dogs in total were dead when Cassie was found in the bedroom of their home while Francis was discovered in the hallway.

Cassie, a student nurse, and Francis, who used to serve in the military, had been together for 11 years and were "really good together and joined at the hip".

Cassie's mum Deborah Coombes said her daughter struggled with suicidal thoughts following the "troubles" in Wales and after enduring years of chronic pain due to an injury.

She said: "I can 100 per cent say Francis wouldn't have killed her.

"They were devoted and soulmates and he said if anything happened to Cassie he would kill himself as she was everything to him."

The inquest heard Cassie's sister Jodie reveal the pair had spoken about suicide before.

In a statement she said: "Cassie had said a couple of years ago that if they were going to kill themselves they would kill the dogs as well as they wouldn't want anyone else looking after them.

An investigation by the local police force confirmed there was no third-party involvement or suspicious circumstances surrounding their deaths.

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Recording a conclusion of suicide for both deaths, Alison Longhorn said: "I am satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, both Cassie and Francis have taken their own lives and intended to do so."

Addressing their family, she said: "This is particularly tragic circumstances and I can't imagine how it has been to deal with the loss of not one but of both of them."

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.

You’re Not Alone

EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.

It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.

It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.

And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.

Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.

That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.

The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.

Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:

• CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
• Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
• Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
• Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
• Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
• Movember, www.uk.movember.com
• Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm

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