Mr Barley said his relationship broke down under the strain of trying to cope with his escalating council tax debt, which he estimates reached a total of about £6,000.
He fell behind on his mortgage and other payments too. He managed to get a credit card cleared, but his home was eventually repossessed, and he said he had such little money to spend on food that his meals consisted of bread smeared with ketchup.
He said his council tax debt was “probably the worst” to deal with because of the speed with which the total amount increased.
Mr Barley still owes about £1,700 of the £6,000, including £700 of bailiffs’ fees.
He wants councils to stop bringing in bailiffs when the person in debt cannot pay.
“It just adds charges,” he said. “If…