A choreographer at the Royal Ballet killed himself because of a “humiliating” investigation into allegations he abused students, a coroner has said.

Liam Scarlett died in hospital on April 16 this year, four days after attempting suicide at his home in Ipswich.

The former artist-in-residence, who joined the prestigious Royal Ballet aged 11, became the company’s youngest-ever choreographer to create a full-length ballet, with Frankenstein, in 2014.

An inquest heard Mr Scarlett was “tired and humiliated” by sexual misconduct allegations levelled against him that had led to his suspension and separation from the company.

 On April 12, just days after his 35th birthday, he sent messages to his parents telling them to come over and that he loved them.

His parents, Deborah and Laurence, arrived at his flat to find Mr Scarlett in cardiac arrest.

History of anxiety

They rushed him to Ipswich Hospital, where he received four days of treatment while comatose before doctors withdrew his care after finding he had suffered permanent brain damage.

Suffolk Coroners’ Court heard Mr Scarlett had suffered privately from anxiety for two decades, and had been taking Prozac for 15 years.

He saw his GP to discuss his mental health four times in late 2019 after he was suspended from the company.

During one appointment, he told his GP that he had not been enjoying life for three months since a harassment case at work, and complained of “not being able to do the job he loved”.

In October 2019, he told consultant psychiatrist Naresh Buttan that he felt “betrayed and humiliated” in relation to the misconduct allegations.

Mr Buttan told the inquest that Mr Scarlett suffered from social and situational anxiety and had been drinking considerable amounts of alcohol – up to six pints of beer and a bottle of whiskey a day – to block out his feelings.

However, the court heard he gave “no indication at all” to his family that he was considering taking his own life.

His father Laurence said: “When I saw Liam he was Liam – happy, care-free, just loving what he was doing. Dance and choreography was his life. Never once did I see him looking depressed.”

Press coverage a ‘factor in his death’

Coroner Jacqueline Devonish said that press coverage of the allegations, following a leak from the Royal Ballet, was a factor in his death.

Mr Scarlett was suspended from his role in September 2019 after allegations of sexual misconduct were lodged against him by male students at the Royal Ballet School who accused him of inappropriate touching, sexual messaging on social media and soliciting nude photographs. 

He had been due to face a formal disciplinary hearing but left the Royal Ballet in March 2020 before proceedings began.

The Royal Opera House told the London Review of Books that although the investigation into Mr Scarlett’s conduct found “no matters to pursue in relation to students at the Royal Ballet School … this was only part of the matters under investigation and Mr Scarlett left the Royal Ballet in March 2020”.

In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or via email at jo@samaritans.org.