Detective hanged himself after theft claim (From The Argus)

Detective hanged himself after theft claim in Sussex

10:40pm Tuesday 17th March 2009 in News By Nigel Freedman

A senior detective hanged himself after being “tipped over the edge” by allegations he stole wine with a colleague he was having an affair with.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Torbet killed himself after his arrest with Chief Inspector Sharon Rowe at Marks and Spencer, Shoreham, was made public in October.

The pair had been suspended by Sussex Police and were freed on bail pending further inquiries.

Mr Torbet, who had already been badly hit by the murder of his daughter Rae, was “tipped over the edge” after he was repeatedly interviewed about the alleged incident last September.

He was already suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression as a result of her death.

Rae Torbet was stabbed to death by her former boyfriend, truck driver Dellwyn James, at her flat in Bexhill in 2003.

Police doctor Robert Sparks said Mr Torbet broke down before an interview at Crawley police station on October 10.

He said he would have considered sectioning Mr Torbet under the Mental Health Act if he had not had the support of his family when he left the police station.

His GP, Dr Anna Moon, told the inquest: “Mr Torbet said he had been arrested with a senior colleague over an allegation of shoplifting.

“He said that the Saturday before he had sat in his loft with a noose around his neck because the story was in the newspapers.

“There were other major life events in his past which were affecting him.

“He spoke about the guilt he felt over his daughter’s murder five years before.

“He also said he had been having an affair for seven years and that this had just come out into the open and that the woman involved was the married senior colleague with whom he had been detained.”

At a later appointment he told Dr Moon his married colleague had two children and was reluctant to break up her marriage.

Mr Torbet, 54, was a senior member of the Sussex police professional standards team based at headquarters at Lewes.

He was found dead when his brother Fraser, a former police officer, went to his house in Sutton Avenue North, Peacehaven, to check on him on October 30.

He had pinned a note to the front door stating: “Fraser, do not come in alone. Call the police. Sorry.”.

Officers found him hanging from a tow rope tied to a rafter in the loft.

Mr Torbet’s father Alf, his brother Fraser and Jim’s son Lee were at the inquest in Eastbourne yesterday but did not want to comment after coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of suicide.

Fraser Torbet said he and Lee had taken it in turns to stay with the distraught detective because of his mental state.

He confessed that he had made an earlier noose from electric cables and had also considered killing himself with knives.

He said his brother was “distraught” after his arrest on September 27 was leaked and pictures of him and his daughter Rae appeared in the press which had “tipped him over the edge”.

Pc Mark White, Police Federation secretary for Sussex police, was with Mr Torbet when he was interviewed about the theft allegations on October 10.

He said Mr Torbet was in such a state that the police doctor was called and he was judged to be unfit for interview.

Mr White said: “He was staring at the ground, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes.

“It was the worst case I had seen in my career. I literally watched him fall apart in front of me.

“It was obvious that he was not in a position to be interviewed.”

The inquest heard that although force welfare officer Theresa Bromage was called in and gave Mr Torbet continued support, the force doctor who saw him at Crawley police station had not informed his GP.

Ms Bromage had persuaded Mr Torbet to see his GP and to agree to an assessment by force clinical psychologist Dr Philip Dodgson.

Coroner Mr Craze said he intended to write to Sussex police medical carers asking them to consider telling the GP of anyone considered unfit to be interviewed to help avoid further tragedies in future.

CI Rowe, 44, the district commander of Worthing, is due to appear before a Sussex police disciplinary tribunal in May.

The CPS decided no charges would be brought against her even though it considered there was enough evidence to support a prosecution.

A spokesman said: “It would not be in the public interest to prosecute her in the circumstances of Mr Torbet’s death.”

A Sussex police spokesman said: “ We are confident in the integrity of the investigation but are unable to comment further as one officer is still awaiting a disciplinary hearing.

“The force will take on board the recommendations made in the coroner’s letter once it is received.”

Fraser Torbet said his brother was deeply aggrieved that Dellwyn James was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years behind bars and felt justice had not been served.

He said: “He felt let down and understandably that affected Jim badly. He never dealt with the loss of Rae.”

Fraser Torbet said it was matter of great family concern that he did not seek any type of counselling following Rae's death.

He told a welfare officer he would go into his loft where there was a skylight and talk to Rae, describing it as a “stairway to heaven”.

Chief Constable Martin Richards said: “The tragic death of Jim Torbet was a great shock to his colleagues and friends.

“Our thoughts and condolences have gone out to his son Lee, brother Fraser and his mother and father Jean and Alfred. Their loss has been shared by his many friends and colleagues.

“Jim gave 28 years of loyal and dedicated service to Sussex police. A former teacher, he actively supported his colleagues wherever he worked.

“He was a popular and valued member of our team who received five commendations throughout his career. Her set himself the highest standards and his colleagues are proud to salute his many years of dedicated service to Sussex police.”