A mentally ill man murdered his wife after a psychiatrist failed to take his threats to kill her seriously and discharged him from hospital.

Roger Goswell was allowed to leave The Priory, a privately run mental hospital in Hove, on December 20 last year.

Three days later he bludgeoned and stabbed his wife, Susan, to death at their home before crashing his car into a tree, killing himself.

Police said the retired property developer was unable to cope with the revelation that his wife of 46 years had not been a virgin when they first met. Officers described the disclosure as the “tipping point” for the 66-year-old, who had a history of mental illness.

In November, just days after Mrs Goswell, 63, had revealed her former relationship, Mr Goswell tried to commit suicide. He was admitted to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, then nearby NHS-run Harold Kidd Unit before being transferred to The Priory as a voluntary patient. An inquest at Worthing into the deaths was yesterday told he was discharged from The Priory on December 17.

Three days later he was seen again by Dr Glen Berelowitz, who oversaw his care at the mental hospital.

Despite Mrs Goswell telling staff her husband had repeatedly threatened to kill her and himself, Mr Goswell was allowed to return to their home in Silverwood, West Chiltington. On December 23 Mrs Goswell’s body was found in their lounge.

West Sussex coroner Penelope Schofield heard that in an attempt to protect herself from her husband, Mrs Goswell called police to The Priory on December 20 where she was waiting while her husband attended an outpatient session.

The family’s lawyer, Michael Mylonas, said Dr Berelowitz was talking to Mr Goswell in his office.

Mr Mylonas said despite knowing Mrs Goswell had expressed fear of talking about her husband’s behaviour in front of him, Dr Berelowitz told Mr Goswell what his wife had done and invited her in to talk about it with Mr Goswell present.

The inquest was told Dr Berelowitz never spoke with Mrs Goswell about her husband’s repeated threats.

Mr Mylonas said this was one of a series of failures by Dr Berelowitz, which led to Mr Goswell being discharged and free to kill his wife.

Dr Berelowitz maintained he had acted correctly.

The inquest is expected to conclude today.