Key Points
- Coroner Assistant Gavin Knox found the death of Sergeant Nicholas John Williams, aged 54, of South Wales Police, as a suicide.
- According to Mr Knox, the officer’s death “could have been prevented” if there had been a stress risk assessment carried out during his period of sick leave.
- Sergeant Williams was found dead in his house in Barry on April 2, 2024, just before he was supposed to go back to work.
- The inquest hearing was held for three days at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court until October 16, 2026.
- The coroner said that there was a danger of future deaths resulting from the ignorance of stress risk assessment at South Wales Police and issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report.
- Among the reasons for the death cited in the evidence were an unresolved complaint, bullying by Chief Inspector Chris Peters, IT problems exacerbating the dyslexia of the officer, transfer to the undesired Fairwater Police Station, and lack of consideration of his neurodiversity.
- Sergeant Williams had dyslexia, had been diagnosed with ADHD when he was off sick leave, and was about to be diagnosed with autism. Chief
Wales Police (Wales Times) October 17, 2026 – A coroner has told South uk/police/">Wales Police that the death of Sergeant Nicholas John Williams could have been avoided, after an inquest found the force did not carry out a stress risk assessment while the officer was absent from work with work-related stress.
As reported by WalesOnline, Assistant Coroner Gavin Knox recorded a conclusion of suicide following a three-day inquest at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court. Sergeant Williams, who was 54, was found dead by his wife, Keri, at their home in Barry on April 2, 2024. He was due to return to South Wales Police the following day.
Mr Knox said a stress risk assessment may have led to welfare support being put in place and could have helped avoid Sergeant Williams’s death. He announced that he would issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report, also known as a Regulation 28 report, to South Wales Police.
What Did The Coroner Find?
The coroner said the absence of a stress risk assessment during Sergeant Williams’s six-month sick leave represented a missed opportunity. According to WalesOnline, he said:
“The absence of risk assessment may have led to a failure to disclose the risk. It is possible an SRA may have led to the provision of welfare support for the officer.”
He added:
“A SRA may have helped avoid Nick’s death.”
Mr Knox expressed concern that staff responsible for managing Sergeant Williams’s return to work were not familiar with stress risk assessments. WalesOnline reported that neither Inspector Kate Lerwill, who was responsible for his return-to-work process, nor the Police Federation officer assisting him were aware of the assessments.
The coroner said the force’s lack of knowledge about stress risk assessments could lead to further tragedies. As reported by WalesOnline, he said:
“I have a concern other deaths may occur with the police’s lack of knowledge of stress risk assessments.”
What Did The Inquest Hear?
The inquest heard that Sergeant Williams had been signed off work with stress after a constable he supervised made allegations of bullying against him in June 2023. WalesOnline reported that details of the complaint were withheld from him for six months, which increased his stress.
Sergeant Michael George, a Police Federation representative, told the inquest that Sergeant Williams became increasingly convinced he would be dismissed, despite being told the worst possible outcome could be a final written warning.
The complaint related to allegations of bullying connected to his direct management style. The coroner noted that Sergeant Williams’s neurodiversity contributed to misunderstandings in his interactions with others because of his straightforward communication style.
Sergeant Williams had a long-standing diagnosis of dyslexia and received an ADHD diagnosis while on sick leave. He was also awaiting a potential autism diagnosis. The inquest heard that his ADHD and autistic characteristics affected his ability to interpret social cues.
What Was Said About His Treatment At Work?
Evidence heard during the inquest included concerns about an unwanted transfer to Fairwater Police Station, problems with work IT that affected management of his dyslexia, and allegations of bullying by Chief Inspector Chris Peters.
According to WalesOnline, Sergeant Williams’s wife told the inquest that he felt “punished” and “isolated” after Chief Inspector Peters required him to transfer to Fairwater and work alone in a room near the chief inspector’s office. She said her husband believed this amounted to surveillance.
She also alleged that, on the day he returned to work, Chief Inspector Peters warned him not to take further sick leave, saying: “or you’ll have me to deal with,” and threatened to remove his sergeant’s stripes. WalesOnline reported that she encouraged him to submit a grievance about his treatment and the lack of support for his neurodiversity and IT difficulties.
Inspector Lerwill told the inquest that she was aware of Sergeant Williams’s difficulties. She said she had placed him in a private room at Fairwater Police Station to accommodate his neurodiversity and keep him away from the busy Parade Room.
When Sergeant Williams’s daughter, Hannah, asked whether she could have done more to support his return to work, Inspector Lerwill became emotional. WalesOnline reported that she said: “I ask myself every day what else I could have done.”
What Did His Family Say?
After the inquest, Sergeant Williams’s family issued a statement through his eldest daughter, Hannah. As reported by WalesOnline, she said the evidence from his colleagues showed he was “hard-working, dedicated, knowledgeable, and very good at what he did”.
Hannah said her father had been dealing with repeated IT problems, difficulties with reasonable adjustments, uncertainty about his career, and worsening work-related stress. She said the inquest identified multiple points at which his deteriorating wellbeing could have been acted upon while South Wales Police knew he was experiencing work-related stress.
She said the force’s own service had been informed that her father had researched methods of suicide. She also said inspectors had told the inquest they had never encountered a stress risk assessment, despite it being part of South Wales Police’s own absence procedures.
Hannah said:
“The evidence exposed gaps in knowledge and understanding around neurodiversity, reasonable adjustments, and the processes available for managing work-related stress.”
She said her father submitted a grievance raising serious concerns about his treatment on April 1, 2024. He took his own life the following day, when he was due to return to work.
She added: “My dad dedicated his life to protecting and helping others. He was more than just a police officer; he was my dad, a husband, a grandfather, and someone who truly wanted to make a difference.”
How Did South Wales Police Respond?
Following the inquest, South Wales Police Chief Constable Marc Attwell expressed sorrow at Sergeant Williams’s death. According to WalesOnline, he said the officer joined South Wales Police in 2005 and spent much of his career in Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Chief Constable Attwell said Sergeant Williams worked in several roles, mostly as a neighbourhood officer, and was promoted to neighbourhood sergeant in October 2022.
He said:
“It is profoundly regrettable that Nick felt inadequately supported by the organisation, and we will meticulously review the coroner’s findings to act on and learn from lessons.”
He added that the force’s thoughts remained with Sergeant Williams’s family and friends.
What Is A Prevention Of Future Deaths Report?
A Prevention of Future Deaths report is issued when a coroner believes there is a risk that other deaths could occur in similar circumstances. The South Wales Central Coroner’s Service explains that the report is sent to organisations able to take action to reduce that risk.
Those organisations must respond within 56 days, setting out what action they intend to take. The coroner sends the report and any responses to the family, and the names of recipients are published by the Ministry of Justice.
Background Of The Development
Sergeant Nicholas John Williams was a South Wales Police officer, husband, father and grandfather. He also volunteered as a coastguard and worked as a schools liaison officer. WalesOnline reported that he took pride in policing and had loved his work before the complaint and subsequent period of absence.
His sick leave began shortly after the bullying allegations were made against him in June 2023. He remained unaware of the details of the complaint for six months. During that time, he experienced increasing anxiety about his career and was later transferred to Fairwater Police Station.
The inquest concluded on October 16, 2026, before Assistant Coroner Gavin Knox. The South Wales Central Coroner’s Service listed the hearing as a conclusion inquest for Nicholas John Williams, aged 54, of Barry, who died on April 2, 2024.
Prediction: How This Could Affect Police Staff And Families
This development is likely to increase scrutiny of how South Wales Police manages work-related stress, neurodiversity, reasonable adjustments and return-to-work procedures. For serving officers and staff, the coroner’s decision to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report may lead to clearer internal expectations around stress risk assessments, particularly where an employee has disclosed suicidal thoughts or is returning after stress-related absence.
For families of police employees, the case may reinforce the importance of raising welfare concerns formally and asking what support, adjustments or risk assessments are in place. The force’s stated commitment to review the coroner’s findings suggests that changes to training, record-keeping or welfare processes may follow, although any specific action will depend on South Wales Police’s formal response to the report.
