London - The father of a man who helped his depressed identical twin brother kill himself as part of a "tragic" suicide pact, yesterday spoke of his relief after a judge decided to spare his son a prison sentence.
Paul Dane helped his brother, Kevin (20), hang himself from the ceiling of his bedroom at the family home in Carlisle by drilling the holes in a wooden beam for the noose before feeding the rope through.
Dane, who is now 21, then failed in his attempt to strangle himself with a belt, Carlisle Crown Court heard. He was later found "trembling" in front of his brother's body.
Outside court, after Judge John Phillips handed his son a three-year rehabilitation order on condition that he undergoes psychiatric treatment, Mr Alan Dane spoke of his relief.
He said: "The judge was very sympathetic. Our main priority now is to make sure that Paul gets better." At an earlier hearing, Dane admitted a charge under the Suicide Act 1961 of aiding and abetting the suicide of his brother.