The Caped Crusader

A South Wales Police sergeant took his own life while off duty with work-related stress. Assistant Coroner Gavin Knox said he will issue a Prevention of Future Deaths Notice after South Wales Police failed to carry out a stress risk assessment on Sergeant Nicholas John Williams. Sgt Williams, a father of three and grandfather, was found dead at home, by his wife Keri, on April 2 2023, the day before he was due to return to the job he'd come to dread, a three day inquest at Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard. Concluding the inquest on October 16, Coroner Knox recorded a verdict of suicide on the 54 year-old officer, adding that a stress risk assessment had not been carried out that may have prevented his death. "I have a concern that other deaths will occur with South Wales Police's lack of knowledge of stress risk assessment," Coroner Knox told the final of the inquest on Friday October 16.” Sgt Williams' family said after the hearing that he had been let down by the force he worked for. The hearing was told that South Wales Police knew the reasons for Sgt Williams' work related stress - an unresolved complaint against him. He also had problems with work IT to help manage his dyslexia, an unwanted move to Fairwater Police Station as well as allegations that his boss, Chief Inspector Chris Peters, was bullying him. Yet, officers managing his return to work did not carry out a stress risk assessment, which may have avoided his death, the coroner said. The coroner was also concerned about the force's failure to take account of the father of three's neurodiversity. His ADHD and autistic traits made it harder for Sgt Williams to interpret what people meant and sometimes caused people to misinterpret his direct manner, the hearing was told. Sgt Williams had a longstanding workplace diagnosis of dyslexia and was diagnosed with ADHD early on during his sick leave. The work placed stress sick leave began almost immediately after a constable Sgt Williams supervised reported him on allegations of bullying, details of which were not divulged for six months, adding to the stress, the inquest had been told. He was also waiting for a suspected autism diagnosis shortly after a complaint was made against him in June 2023. 'Failed opportunity' "The absence of that risk assessment may have led to a disclosure of increased risk of suicide. It (a SRA) may have led to the offer of welfare support for the officer," said the coroner. The failure to carry out such an assessment during the sergeant's six month sick leave with stress was "a failed opportunity, considering the stress he was under”, the coroner added. He said he was "surprised" and concerned that neither Inspector Kate Lerwill, from Fairwater Police Station, who was tasked with managing the officer's return to work, nor the Police Federation Officer helping him, or others, knew about SRAs. Sergeant Nick Williams, 54, was found dead at home in Barry by his wife Keri 10 the day before he was due back at work with South Wales Police and the day after he had issued a grievance against CI Peters for bullying, the inquest heard. He was found dead in his garage at home. A post mortem showed died from injuries consistent with hanging, the inquest was told. The tragedy came 10 months after an unresolved complaint against him had been made in June 2023 by a constable he managed. He was not told details of the complaint for six months during which time he convinced himself he would be sacked for it, even though the worst outcome possible was a final written warning, said Police Federation rep Sergeant Michael George. Continued…