'I can't take anymore': Former West Midlands Fire Service chief's final message to devastated family

Mr Brown had celebrated his 54th birthday with relatives days before he was found dead at his Birmingham flat on January 24 last year. 

The hearing at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court on Monday was told that in the days leading up to his death there had been increased media interest relating to  allegations about the personal life of the the former West Midlands Fire Service chief, including claims relating to his time with London Fire Brigade and that he did not have the MBA qualification listed on his social media profile. 

Giving evidence the fire authority's monitoring officer Satinder Sahota said Mr Brown had complained of "racing thoughts, of feeling exhausted and not sleeping properly". 

He told the inquest that he had been copied into an email suggesting Mr Brown was not qualified for the post.

Mr Sahota, who's role includes governance, said: " I immediately contacted Wayne. I asked him about the reference to the MBA. He then shared that he had started the course, but had not completed it.

"I told him that I would have to discuss it with the chairman."

The chairman and I did have a discussion and agreed to meet with Wayne on the Thursday of that week."

"He repeated the admission. He apologised for having that reference on his CV. I then informed him that an official fact-finding investigation would be required. We talked about his wellbeing and what support we could provide."

However, Mr Sahota told the hearing that he was not aware that the service knew whether Mr Brown had sought any help. He said the chief officer had made reference to having advised others to use the occupational health facility.

"Wayne came across as a very private person and very stoic. I encouraged him to seek help. I was a little robust and said, 'I'm sorry, I don't want to sound like your mum'. I said in my view he was not a robot.

At that stage the coroner Mrs Louise Hunt told the hearing she was concerned that no-one at the service knew if he had contacted its occupational health.

Mr Sahota said as part of the service's investigation, checks revealed that Mr Brown had a 'Level Seven' qualification in strategic leadership which Warwick Business School had confirmed was appropriate for the position. He said Mr Brown died before he could tell him.

Also giving evidence Mr Brown’s partner Nicola White, from Essex, said press reports had escalated over the preceding weekend resulting in her asking Mr Brown not to go to work on the Monday.

"On Tuesday we talked on Face Time. He said he had a headache and couldn't drive. I said 'come home'. He said 'I love you Nic' and he said I love you too' back. She said it crossed her mind whether he would " do something silly" but she dismissed it and sent him a quote to say despite the problems he will be "stronger".

She told the inquest that an article in The Sun twas the final straw.

In a statement read aloud at the hearing the fire service's former deputy chief officer Jo Bowcock said she discussed the situation with Mr Brown including an exit strategy from the service as he had reached the threshold for retirement.

'I can't do this anymore'

The hearing was told that in a letter addressed to his family Mr Brown stated: "The last two years of my life have been absolutely awful. I can't do this anymore."

In her conclusions Senior coroner Louise Hunt  said: "I have judged all the evidence on the balance of probability. What is clear to me is that Wayne was a much-loved member of the family. The pen portrait described him as forever being a shining star."

She said she would be raising concerns through a Future Deaths Report relating to the service failing to undertake an investigation after the death into its support policies for senior ranking staff, while mental health support was in place for lower ranks, and concerns over note taking at one-to-one meetings.

Charges against a man accused of harassment droped by the CPS after Mr Brown's death

Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Kiteley, who was the West Midlands Police officer investigating the alleged harassment, said a man was charged with harassing the fire chief in July 2023 and while there had been some early court appearances, Mr Brown had expressed “frustration” to DCI Kiteley that a court date had been pushed back.

He said: “I had no idea he would go on to take his own life but I could tell the constant barrage of contact was getting to him.

“I appreciated it was difficult for him to go on with his day job because of other pressures.”

The charges against the man accused of harassment were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service after Mr Brown’s death.

Suicide verdict

Mr Brown took up the role of chief fire officer in January 2023 after previously serving in London.

Mrs Hunt recorded a verdict of suicide.

She indicated she would be writing a Prevention of Future Deaths report to WMFS to raise concerns.

She said the fire service did not undertake any investigation following Mr Brown’s death so lessons could be learned and was concerned that there was no policy requiring them to do so.

Mrs Hunt was also concerned that there appeared to be no mechanism for recording concerns raised about the welfare of staff during a fact-finding or formal investigation, and that there was no provision in the service’s health and wellbeing or mental health policy for employees as senior as Mr Brown was.

Loved and respected

In a tribute, Mr Brown’s son Kai said he was “loved and respected”, had many friends and was their “shining star”.

He said: “We will be forever proud of him and he leaves a void in our lives which will never be filled.”

•  Anyone needing support can call the Samaritans helpline number, 116 123, at any time.