Paul Tebbutt, a 68-year-old former forensic investigator, is suing West Midlands Police for £100,000, alleging that the cumulative stress of his 27-year career caused him to suffer a stroke in 2023.
Tebbutt, who became a crime scene co-ordinator in 2012, stated in court documents that he investigated approximately 45 murders and 100 suspicious deaths each year. His legal team contends that his work exposed him to "cumulative levels of harmful occupational stress." The lawsuit claims the police force failed to implement a system to monitor the pressure he was under, despite the inherently stressful nature of his role.
His career included investigating high-profile cases, such as the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy and the 1994 Coventry air disaster. Tebbutt reported experiencing burnout, citing a specific instance involving a photograph of a teddy bear belonging to a murdered 12-year-old victim.
According to court documents, Tebbutt worked up to 200 deaths annually in 2017 and worked 45-hour weeks. In one year, he reportedly worked alone due to a vacant partner position and attended the highest number of murders recorded in the West Midlands during that period.
Following his stroke, Tebbutt was deemed permanently disabled and medically retired in April 2024. He has stated that the prospect of returning to a police station now fills him with dread and anxiety, leading him to work from home prior to his retirement.
West Midlands Police have declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter.