Paul McCartney’s former security guard is living on the breadline after post traumatic stress disorder forced him to quit work.

Ady McGill, 48, is missing meals to feed his children and is struggling to find the family a permanent home after things took their toll.

He served with the Royal Hampshire Regiment between 1986 and 1991 before becoming a security guard.

Between 2004 and 2016, he worked freelance for Sir Paul McCartney as his close guard protection. He also protected Phil Collins for a short time.

But now, the father-of-three is suffering from PTSD, depression and anxiety and is unable to work or provide for his family.

He is now living in temporary accommodation in Chatham with his partner Stacey Lennox, their daughter Lyla and his two step-children, Avie, 10, and Essie, eight. He has two children from his previous marriage who live in Southampton.

Ady served in Northern Ireland between 1989 and 1991. He believes his PTSD is linked to a difficult upbringing and his time in conflict. Now, a Northern Irish accent is one of the things that can cause him to have an episode.

He cannot work, even though he wants to, because of his health while Stacey brings in what she can working part-time at a supermarket.

While bouncing 11-month-old Lyla on his knee, struggling to keep the tears away at their home in Silverweed Road, Weedswood, he said: “I am at the end of my tether. I look at these beautiful faces every day and I think of the positives in life but to someone on the brink of suicide, that doesn’t matter.

“I am only taking the girls to school three days a week. Sometimes, if Stacey is here with the baby I’ll sit in the car park and wait for them because I can’t afford the petrol to come back.

“We had our first food package at Christmas. We don’t have lunch so the girls can have dinner.

“I’ve served my country, I’ve done what I’ve done. I just want help. How much more do I have to do?”

His mental health problems deteriorated when he took on a job at a Medway prison and is now unable to work at all.

The family were living in Painters Forstal, near Faversham, but were served an eviction notice last October after falling into arrears when Ady had to stop work.

They were given their current property after Stacey pleaded with them not to put the family in bed and breakfast accommodation.

Stacey, 35, said: “I told the council if we are put in a B’n’B someone might die. I’m not being dramatic or threatening, I was pre-warning them. If something triggers Ady, we don’t know what he will do.

“Swale Council accepted duty of care in August and is now trying to find us a property.”

Ady was sectioned at Priority House mental health unit in Maidstone in April after he went missing from their home.

He then spent three weeks in St Martin’s Hospital in Canterbury for the second time. The first was last November.

Stacey, who works as many hours as she can at Tesco in Faversham, said: “My ex-husband is saying maybe the girls should be with him in Devon and that makes me feel sick but I’ve got to the point where I think they might be better off.

“We know there are rules but we know someone can make a decision. No one needs help more than us.

“I have to keep him [Ady] alive and I have to keep him going because I need him. The fact I might lose Ady because other people don’t understand... I can’t get my head around it.

“We’re a decent, hard-working family that have fallen on difficult times. I can’t imagine another family going through this and not being heard.”

If the family is found a home, they have just 24 hours to pack up and leave Weedswood and move in to the property.

They only found out about this when a house in Sheerness came up last week. But with three children, two dogs and only one car, they were unable to make the move at such short notice.

Ady said: “They assume we can just pick up three toothbrushes and be out of here in 12 hours.

“Fair play to any family that can, but I have mental health issues and you’ve put extra stress on me.

“I could have gone in there blind; it could have triggered me. I could have walked through and exploded.

“I’m putting Stacey through this all. I can’t do it any more. I feel most days I’m better off dead. I just want someone to help me.

“This house is lovely. I appreciate what I’m in and they have jumped through hoops to avoid putting me in a B’n’B. Thank you. But that’s it now.”

Swale council spokesman Philip Sutcliffe said: “When someone comes to us having lost their home, our first priority is to get a roof over their head.

"I just want someone to help me" - Ady McGill

“Unfortunately, there are only a limited number of properties available, so in the short term we often have to offer temporary accommodation out-of-borough.

“We do try to move people back to the borough as quickly as we can when suitable temporary accommodation becomes available.”

Over the last few days the British Legion has been in touch to help the family.

If you are struggling with similar issues to Ady call 0800 107 0160 for help.