Former police sergeant had struggled with trauma
AN inquest has heard how a former Derbyshire police sergeant suffered multiple traumatic events and struggles with lockdown.
Michael Burton, 54, who was homeless at the time of his death, was found dead on April 20, 2020.
His inquest was held at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court on Friday with Susan Evans, assistant coroner for Derby and Derbyshire.
The court heard how Mr Burton, who had given up his Chesterfield home, suffered loss in recent years, losing his brother to suicide and his stepfather suddenly in 2015, as well as his long-term partner to cancer in 2014.
His work as a police sergeant was also referenced as a source of stress, with one incident leaving Mr Burton with post-traumatic stress after he was attacked on the job.
Statements read aloud often noted his private nature surrounding his job, mentioning that his family were only made aware he had been involved in an incident after his mental health began to decline.
Mr Burton retired from Derbyshire police in December 2019, after taking time off due to stress and the effects of the assault. The inquest heard he was taking antidepressants at the time.
His sister told the inquest he did seem to “have his happiness back” after his retirement and became romantically involved with a woman. However, his friends and family described the relationship as “toxic” and as a “possible source of mental health deterioration”.
The pandemic had also been a source of worry for him, as heard in a statement read by Miss Evans.
On April 17, 2020, he attended his sister’s address after his new partner had told him, after an argument, to leave her home in Calow where he had been staying after giving up his own apartment.
His sister told Mr Burton he was welcome to stay with her, but he left the next day. By April 19 his family had received no contact and contacted police. His vehicle was found the next day near to where he was found to have booked an apartment as a short-term let. His body was discovered later that day.
Miss Evans concluded he had taken his own life, recording the official cause of death as “ligature occlusion of the neck, airways and vasculature”.