Senior Coroner Struck Off for Downplaying Rape Allegations
Chinyere Inyama, a senior coroner in West London from 2013 until his dismissal in 2023, has been struck off the roll of solicitors after a disciplinary tribunal found he deliberately misled the Chief Coroner's Office about the severity of sexual assault allegations made against him. The allegations stem from his earlier career as a mental health lawyer.
Details of the Allegations and Misconduct
Mr Inyama, now in his mid-60s, was accused of raping a former client multiple times in a hotel room and entering a sauna with her at a gym or swimming pool in Newark, Nottinghamshire, between 2001 and 2008. The alleged victim was described as a 'mentally disordered' former client from his time as a mental health solicitor between 1993 and 2003.
In October 2021, Nottinghamshire Police informed Mr Inyama about historic sexual assault allegations. The following month, he received more details but later told James Parker, head of the Chief Coroner's Office, that there were only two allegations of him 'touching up' the woman. Mr Parker reported him after noticing discrepancies between this account and police information.
Tribunal Findings and Dismissal
A January 2023 disciplinary panel found Mr Inyama guilty of serious misconduct for 'deliberately misleading' the Chief Coroner's Office. He was sacked in February 2023. The tribunal rejected his defense that he was merely embarrassed, stating it was a 'deliberate act calculated to minimise the serious nature of the allegations.'
The panel emphasized that as an experienced solicitor and senior judiciary member, Mr Inyama was fully aware of his obligations to report accurately. They concluded his conduct was 'spontaneous, deliberate, and calculated,' leading to his striking off and an order to pay £15,000 in costs.
History of Controversies
Mr Inyama's tenure as a senior coroner was marked by multiple controversies. In 2014, he oversaw the inquest into murdered schoolgirl Alice Gross but was sanctioned for leaving a sensitive police file about the case on a train. He also faced criticism for holding inquests late at night to clear backlogs and was accused of bullying a staff member in 2017, resulting in a reprimand from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office.
Despite these issues, he retained his £120,000-a-year position until the rape allegations surfaced, highlighting systemic failures in oversight within the coronial system.
