A decorated and respected police sergeant took his own life following what his widow described as a 'witch hunt' by his own force into unfounded allegations, an inquest has heard.
Inquest Details Tragic Circumstances
Ben Websdale, a 50-year-old officer from Worthing, was found dead by his ex-wife, Michelle Websdale, in January last year. This occurred after he was informed that Sussex Police had referred their investigation to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
'Broken' by the Investigation
Ms Websdale told the inquest in Horsham that her ex-husband was utterly devastated by the ordeal. 'To say he was broken is a massive understatement,' she stated. 'He was a shadow of his former self.' The sergeant, who had an unblemished 22-year record and two awards for bravery and conduct, spiralled into depression and panic attacks following his arrest.
Allegations and Previous Trauma
The IOPC was investigating suspected misconduct in a public office related to an alleged inappropriate relationship with a female prisoner who later attempted suicide. Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield was told that Mr Websdale was already traumatised from a harrowing inquest into the death of another young male prisoner who had taken his own life after being released from custody.
A Distinguished Career Cut Short
Mr Websdale joined Sussex Police in 2001, was quickly promoted to sergeant, and served as a Police Federation representative. His commendations included:
- An outstanding leadership award in 2014.
- Recognition in 2015 for saving a colleague from a man armed with a samurai sword.
Despite divorcing, he and Ms Websdale remained close, with him describing her as his 'co-pilot'.
Widow's Emotional Testimony
In an emotional statement, Ms Websdale said her ex-husband was an excellent, approachable, firm, and fair officer with a genuine concern for prisoner welfare. 'I believe his role, the cynicism and the way he was treated contributed to his death,' she asserted. She criticised the force's response as disproportionate, stating the arrest at work was humiliating and shaming, leaving him isolated.
'If you knew Ben, you would know he had no malicious or bad intentions,' she added. 'He was an amazing officer who just wanted to help people.'
Lack of Support Highlighted
Ms Websdale emphasised that during the 2024 inquest into the prisoner's death, Mr Websdale broke down while giving evidence without adequate support from his employers. 'It really touched him. He always questioned if he or others could have done more. It really affected him. The inquest really traumatised him. I never believed the support he was given was sufficient,' she told the court. She noted that he had been investigated and cleared, but the damage was already done.
The inquest continues.
