‘He was barely sleeping, partly due to the coke and partly because somewhere in the world a market is open, twenty-four-seven. He began having psychotic episodes and symptoms of mania, and became very paranoid. It’s truly awful to witness this happening to someone you love. Someone you’ve had a child with. They literally disintegrate in front of you. Eventually, he had a breakdown and landed up in a psychiatric hospital. The coke well and truly messed his brain up. I didn’t trust him around Amanda, and I didn’t feel safe around him myself. His rage was extremely unpredictable and scary.’

‘I have to ask. Did he ever hurt you or your daughter?’

‘Physically, no. Never. But, on many occasions, he was completely out of control of himself. Babbling and ranting, and we were all scared. It was the drugs. It wasn’t him. When we met, Patrick was the nicest person in the world. I wouldn’t have married him otherwise.’ Her voice had got higher. ‘Very few people can work in that city environment for long without it turning their head and dragging them into . . . well, I’ve told you.’ She looked up from her hands. ‘Did he suffer? How was he killed?’

‘It would have been quick.’ No-one wanted to know that their loved one had died an agonising death and been mutilated.

She smiled in appreciation. It was clear that Nicola Grant had cared deeply about her ex-husband, and still did. And that she had obviously been through some extremely challenging times with him. ‘When did you see him last? Were you in touch?’

‘Patrick didn’t cope well with hospital. The drugs they put him on, the attempts at getting him to engage with therapy. They just made him more manic and more determined to self-medicate. He was discharged far too soon. The service had insufficient beds, and they said they had patients with greater needs than him – although that’s hard to fathom. So, he ended up on the streets and never kicked the drugs. He was terrified, sleeping rough. I completely understand. I wouldn’t survive one night. Unfortunately, from cocaine he got into heroin and began mixing it with cheap alcohol. He hadn’t solved his original cocaine addiction and he was self-medicating to cope with living rough. Taking anything he could get hold of. He nearly died. He was lucky to survive and not contract any diseases. Slowly, he got back on his feet, got work at the Old Manor House and worked his way up to sub-foreman. Which is why this . . . this is such a bloody tragedy.’ She let out a sob.

‘How did he get the job there?’