A Kent woman drowned herself after a long-standing battle to get better support for her severely autistic daughter, her husband claims.

Speaking after the inquest into the death of Carol Barnett, her husband Daniel pleaded with Kent County Council (KCC) to reconsider its care plan for the couple's 10-year-old.

Deborah, who was diagnosed with autism aged 18 months, is completely non-verbal, cannot dress or wash herself, is incontinent and requires 24-hour supervision.

Social services have continually refused the family's requests to send her to a residential school which would provide around-the-clock care.

Mr Barnett, 47, said his daughter's condition took a huge toll on his wife, who battled with depression and alcoholism from 2008.

The inquest, held at Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone yesterday, heard Mrs Barnett took her own life in June by entering the River Medway while intoxicated.

The mother-of-two rang Mr Barnett in the minutes before and told him she couldn’t cope any more.

He rushed to save his wife but after arriving at Branbridges Road, in East Peckham, discovered her lying face down in the water.

Detectives later found her shoes on the river bed and her silver Audi A3 parked nearby with the keys in the ignition.

Two suicide notes were found at the family's home in Old Road.

The inquest heard the 51-year-old began drinking heavily as a “coping mechanism” after the birth of her first child.

Senior coroner, Patricia Harding, was told Mrs Barnett's depression worsened after Deborah’s diagnosis and she tried to take her life several times.

Her GP, Vanessa Whillier, said: "Carol had episodes of depression after her first child and would drink on a daily basis. She didn't take the autism diagnosis of her second child well. She took it really badly."

At the time of her death Mrs Barnett was taking disulfiram - a drug designed to deter patients from drinking by producing unpleasant side effects when mixed with alcohol.

Doctor Whillier said the housewife was scared of losing her children and requested the drug specifically. She said Mrs Barnett struggled managing Deborah but wanted to stop drinking as she was concerned about the impact on her family.

Mr Barnett has now resubmitted a request for Deborah, who attends a specialist school in New Ash Green, to be admitted to a residential facility.

After the inquest he told the KM he believes a meeting with social services the night before his wife's death pushed her over the edge.

He said: "Carol kept asking about residential options but the social worker kept saying no. The next morning she took her own life.

"I can't believe for one second what happened in that meeting did not have any effect on her. I am not saying it's all social services' fault, because it’s not but I feel it really was the last nail in her coffin.

"Carol's biggest fear was losing the children. She tried to battle her demons. All she wanted was the best support for Deborah.

"Social services told me if I can't cope they will take Deborah into foster care. That's not what I want, sending her to residential school isn't about getting rid of her.

"This tragedy has already ripped my family apart, I believe this would give her the best possible chance at life and keep us together."

"Social services told me if I can't cope they will take Deborah into foster care. That's not what I want, sending her to residential school isn't about getting rid of her" - Daniel Barnett

Mr Barnett is also concerned for the well-being of his 14-year-old son, Sam.

"He went to school one morning, came home and his mother was dead," he said. "He is obviously still coming to terms with this. He is coming second to Deborah because of her situation. He needs my support."

Mrs Barnett's brother, Peter Sweeney, said after the inquest: "My son's autistic and goes to a specialist school where he is given continuous care and support. He is doing so well. I can't see why the same can't be done in Deborah's case."

A spokesman for Kent County Council said: “We have every sympathy with Mr Barnett. We have been discussing with him how to support Deborah in the best possible way and we have offered an extensive package of support to meet the needs of the family.

“At this time we do not feel a residential school is appropriate to meet Deborah’s needs. She is already in a special school which has been rated as outstanding by Ofsted.

"She is happy and making good progress, both in classes and in after-school activities, and we feel her educational needs are best served by remaining there. We will keep all aspects of Deborah’s education and support for the family under review.”

Senior coroner, Patricia Harding, concluded Mrs Barnett took her own life.

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