Pc in sexual harassment probe found hanged

Carl Spooner’s body was found at his home in Broadlands Crescent, Bramley, just hours after receiving a phone call telling him he was to be investigated by the police’s professional standards body.

Rotherham Coroner Nicola Mundy said at an inquest into Pc Spooner’s death that the news had been the last straw for the officer, who had already been depressed by the claims.

He had also been suffering from stress as a result of relationship problems and clashes with a senior officer.

Ms Mundy said that Pc Spooner had said that he had contemplated suicide in the week before the tragedy.

He had been transferred from the Doncaster Safer Neighbourhood unit he worked in after the allegations of “unwanted attention” made by two women came to light.

He had also temporarily split with his partner and colleagues had been worried about how he was coping.

He had taken leave and sought advice from the force’s occupational health service.

Pc Spooner left a letter to his partner, Sarah Dennis, also a police officer, saying that he had “done stupid things in the past” and was concerned the incident would affect him for life as “mud sticks.”

“He was a joker, to his knowledge he didn’t think he had done anything,” said Ms Dennis.

Miss Dennis, who had returned to their shared home three days before Pc Spooner’s death, said that he had not been eating or sleeping properly, looked dreadful and had been drinking more.

After giving her verdict, Ms Mundy said that there had been a lack of clarity over the nature of the allegations and the way they were communicated to Pc Spooner.

She decided to write to the South Yorkshire Chief Constable and the Independent Police Complaints Commission. 

Pc Spooner (37) was honoured four years ago for disarming a knifeman.