Police Sergeant Died by Suicide Amid Bullying Allegations, Inquest Finds
An inquest concluded that a dedicated officer died by suicide after facing allegations of bullying from his chief inspector and concerns over his management of dyslexia and ADHD.
A police sergeant died by suicide after making allegations of bullying against his chief inspector, an inquest has revealed. Sergeant Nicholas John Williams, 54, a father-of-three described as 'hard-working and dedicated,' was found dead by his wife in their home's garage on April 2, 2024.
The inquest at Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard that Sgt. Williams had taken six months of work-related stress leave following a complaint made by a constable he supervised in June 2023. He did not receive details of the complaint and feared he would be sacked, despite the potential outcome being a final written warning.
Sgt. Williams's difficulties managing dyslexia at work were noted, along with his ADHD and autistic traits, which contributed to a direct communication style. The day before his death, Sgt. Williams filed a complaint against his superior, Chief Inspector Chris Peters, alleging bullying. He felt he was being punished and isolated when CI Peters decided to relocate him from Barry Police Station to Fairwater Police Station in Cardiff.
Upon his return to work, Sgt. Williams was scheduled for back-to-back meetings and was instructed to work alone in a room near CI Peters's office, leading him to feel constantly watched. His wife testified that on his return to work, CI Peters told him not to take any more sick leave or face consequences. She stated her husband began to dread his job after feeling singled out.
Inspector Kate Lerwill, who managed Sgt. Williams's return to work, told the inquest that the decision to move him was intended to protect him and others. She expressed personal distress, questioning what more she could have done to support his return.
During this period, Sgt. Williams confided in a wellbeing officer about experiencing suicidal thoughts, which he also shared with his wife. He reportedly assured them he would not act on these thoughts. He also told his family that working alone all day was negatively affecting him.
Assistant Coroner Gavin Knox expressed surprise that neither Insp. Lerwill nor the Police Federation Officer had performed a stress risk assessment, calling it a missed opportunity that could have potentially alerted them to an increased suicide risk and led to welfare support. The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide and stated he would issue a Prevention of Future Deaths Notice regarding the force's failure to conduct a stress risk assessment, expressing concern that similar deaths could occur without adequate understanding of stress risk assessments within South Wales Police.
Sgt. Williams's family issued a statement through his daughter Hannah, expressing that he had been let down by the force. They highlighted his dedication and skill, along with recurring IT failures, difficulties with reasonable adjustments, career uncertainty, and worsening work-related stress. The family noted that the inquest identified multiple points where his deteriorating wellbeing was known or could have been addressed, including his mention of researching suicide methods to the wellbeing service. They lamented that opportunities to recognize and protect him were missed.
South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Marc Attwell acknowledged the loss, stating it was a matter of deep regret that Sgt. Williams did not feel adequately supported. He affirmed that the force would carefully review the coroner's findings to learn lessons and offered condolences to Sgt. Williams's family and friends.