Trainee PC embarrassed by sergeant - inquest

Anugrah Abraham was found dead in woodland in March 2023

A police sergeant told off a trainee officer "multiple times" in a way that was "embarrassing to him", an inquest into the trainee's death heard.

Rochdale Coroner's Court was told Sgt Mark Wade was described by 21-year-old Anugrah Abraham as “scary” in the months before he died, with the senior officer telling the inquest he had since changed his "tone".

Mr Abraham, from Bury, Greater Manchester, was a student at Leeds Trinity University and was training to become a police officer in Halifax when he was found dead in woodland in March 2023.

Giving evidence at the inquest on Wednesday, Sgt Wade said he “never intended to upset anybody”.

Earlier in the inquest, Mr Abraham's father claimed his son suffered bullying and racism while a trainee - a claim not accepted by West Yorkshire Police.

At the latest hearing, Mr Abraham’s mother walked out of the coroner's court while accusing Sgt Wade of "lying" after he told the inquest he "did like" the trainee.

Sgt Wade said he was “deeply hurt” by Mr Abraham’s death and had previously asked him whether he had had any thoughts of self-harm or suicide, but was told “no” by the trainee.

'Too harsh'

PC Taylor Barraclough, an officer who trained with Mr Abraham in Halifax, told the inquest they had both described Sgt Wade and another senior officer as “quite scary”.

“We were scared to go to them with things,” PC Barraclough said.

“I found them quite belittling, They made me feel quite small when I’d go to them with questions about jobs."

PC Barraclough said there were “between five and seven” occasions at the police station when Mr Abraham was reprimanded by Sgt Wade “in front of everyone in the report room” for issues including “losing things”.

“He really went in on him,” she told the inquest.

“I thought it was a bit too much, a bit too harsh and probably went on for a bit too long."

PC Barraclough said it was “embarrassing” to be told off in public and it “could have been done privately”.

Anugrah Abraham, 21, was from Bury, in Greater Manchester

Sgt Wade agreed his management style could be “blunt” and “to the point”, which would sometimes include swearing.

Sgt Wade was asked about an incident where he spoke to Mr Abraham about losing his police-issue baton when other officers were present.

He said while he "certainly wasn’t shouting at him”, he agreed it was “a fairly stern conversation” and “a telling off”.

The officer said he had since "reviewed how I speak to people", including "changing tone" and using one-to-one conversations instead of speaking in an open environment.

Workload struggles

PC Barraclough told the inquest that Mr Abraham was “very quiet and very rarely stood up for himself”, meaning that when he was told off he “just took it”.

PC Barraclough told the inquest that Mr Abraham “did make mistakes” and “clearly struggled with the pressures of the job”.

Sgt Wade said there was “frustration in the team” with Mr Abraham’s “slower progression rate”, adding: “People may have got frustrated with having to remind him what to do or guide him."

PC Barraclough said she had struggled with the workload given by Leeds Trinity University as part of the police officer training, with Mr Abraham sharing her concerns.

At the time, the force had no policies outlining whether trainees should be given time during their shifts for university work, Sgt Wade told the hearing.

The inquest continues.

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