Police station nurse cleared over detainee death

A nurse on duty in a police station when an arrested man died in a cell has been cleared of manslaughter and of breaching health and safety law.

Sean Cregg 36, was the designated healthcare professional at Loddon Valley police station, in Reading, on 8 January 2020 when William Cameron was arrested on suspicion of assault.

Cregg told a jury he assessed the 38-year-old when he was brought in, but decided he was faking unconsciousness and being "obstructive".

Cameron later died of a heart attack caused by a mix of alcohol, methadone and other drugs, the jury heard.

Guidance issued to the nurse by his employer Mountain Healthcare called for detainees who could not walk or talk to be transferred to hospital immediately.

The prosecution argued Cregg's inaction was "not just a bad day at the office" and amounted to gross negligence.

Cameron was left lying on his front with no attempts to rouse him in the night, or at 6:00 when Cregg looked in on him via the cell spyhole and saw he had not moved.

At 7:04 a police officer also looked through the spyhole and became concerned he could not see him breathing.

Emergency services were called, but he was pronounced dead at 8:16, having suffered a heart attack.

Giving evidence during the trial, Cregg, who lives in Newbury, admitted that he thought Cameron was faking it and wished he had done more.

He told jurors: "I absolutely accept I should have taken more observations, been more thorough. At that time I truly believed he was OK.

"In hindsight, I wish I had done more... if I felt he was unwell I would absolutely have sent him to hospital."

Defending, Selva Ramasamy KC told the jury Cregg did what he thought was right.

He also said the duty of care was not his alone and was shared with the police custody team.

The KC said Cregg was aware that Cameron was intoxicated, but he was not aware he had taken drugs, and that there was a real possibility he would have died even if he had been taken to hospital.

Cregg, who now works in medical equipment sales, buried his head in his hands and sobbed as the not guilty verdicts were announced.

The judge, Mrs Justice Thornton, told him he was free to go.

She thanked the jury, who had deliberated for more than 25 hours, and exempted them from any further jury service.

Following Cameron's death Thames Valley Police made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, whose investigation led to Cregg's charges.

A gross misconduct hearing was also held in January for Sgt Laura Murray, who was present in the custody suite when Cameron was under arrest, and former PC Leon Cunningham, who transported him to custody.

They were both found to have breached standards of professional behaviour.

Murray was dismissed without notice and placed on the College of Policing's barred list. Cunningham, who was also placed on the list, would have been dismissed had he remained a serving officer, the panel said.

A former member of police staff also faced disciplinary proceedings and would have similarly been dismissed, the hearing was told.

Assistant Chief Constable Darren O'Callaghan said: "My deepest condolences are with the family of Mr Cameron, and I am truly sorry that he died in such circumstances.

"We expect the highest standards when it comes to the welfare of detainees within our custody environments.

"What happened to Mr Cameron was not right, and it is very clear that he was not provided with the medical attention, care or respect he should have received from those entrusted with his welfare."

He said the organisation had implemented a "number of additional measures and safeguards to protect those who come into our custody environments".

"This has included enhanced scenario training for officers and custody staff, where a detainee may have deteriorating health or appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol," he added.