Whistleblower teacher, 45, took his own life
ATEACHER who turned whistleblower about alleged exam cheating at Manchester College hanged himself the day he got a letter from bosses suspending him.
Leigh Wilde, 45, from Offerton, was a lecturer at the college’s automotive department and as part of his role verifying test results, he became concerned after noticing some apparent discrepancies.
An inquest at South Manchester Coroner’s Court heard he believed staff at the Openshaw campus were fraudulently taking tests for his students to improve their marks.
He reported his concerns to professional body, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), in a ‘whistleblowing capacity’ and it began an investigation.
The married dad-oftwo, who had served in the RAF as a mechanic, is also said to have reported the allegations to the college’s HR department – although managers told the hearing they could find no record of this.
The following week, Leigh was suspended and escorted from the premises, which his family said left him distraught.
The inquest heard the reason for his suspension was not made clear until three days later on March 16 last year, when he received a letter from the college. He hanged himself in his garage, on Brambling Close, the same day.
The contents of the letter were not revealed in court but after the inquest his wife, Carol, showed it to our sister paper, the M.E.N and it contained accusations of bullying and harassment.
Leigh’s family say the complaints were completely without substance and Samantha Halliday, who works in HR for the LTE Group, who runs Manchester College, told the inquest that in her nine years at the college no issues about his behaviour had been raised in any appraisals, which were held three times a year.
Returning a verdict of suicide, coroner Alison Mutch said: “From the evidence I have heard, towards the end of 2016 Mr Wilde began to have concerns about things that were happening at his workplace.
“I have heard evidence from those who have looked into this matter that on February 15 he telephoned the IMI to give them a reasonable amount of information, sufficient for them to begin an investigation.”
She also said there should be more steps taken by the Manchester College to ‘minimise the risk’ to the individual if a decision had been taken to suspend them. And that it was ‘unhelpful that there was no clear record of how whistleblowers were dealt with’.
Speaking after the hearing, Carol, 49, said: “They were all unfounded (the allegations against Leigh) and nothing like him.
“It is very coincidental that he raised concerns about tests and the next week he was escorted off the premises.
“Manchester College has repeatedly, and as it turns out fatally, failed in its duty to my husband.
“The consequences of the lack of care is something me and my family will have to live with for the rest of our lives.
“They are the only people to blame. We were a lovely, happy family until the beginning of 2017.
“Leigh was a lovely dad and a generous, kind man who helped a lot of people. He was quiet, humble and very moral.”
Speaking on behalf of LTE, Ms Halliday said the college had no record of Leigh raising his concerns with HR.
But the IMI confirmed Leigh had reported the matter and it was also said an anonymous whistleblower had made similar exam cheating allegations in 2014 – albeit ones that were not proven.
The college holds and marks exams internally before sending them back to the examining body, who oversees them.
Carol told the inquest: “Leigh was such a good teacher and had immense patience. Some of the students were difficult, he took great pride in turning them round.
“He liked everything done right, he didn’t like anything half done or cheated.”
Leigh, who was a huge Star Wars fan and collected the film’s character figures, had been best man at a wedding in St Lucia in November 2016, his family’s last holiday together.
He had suffered with some mental health problems following the death of a childhood friend some years earlier but had been gradually coming off the medication he was on.
He also leaves behind sons Ashley, 23 and Lewis, 17.
Ms Mutch said the IMI investigation was ‘not able to progress’ because it did not have the evidence. But at the time of his death Leigh had evidence on his phone, which police have now accessed and will pass it on to IMI in a bid to get the investigation reopened.
The Manchester College describes itself as the largest further education college in the UK.
A spokesman said: “We provided evidence to the inquest as requested by the coroner and we will note the coroner’s verdict and comments.
“We will review these comments and respond appropriately.”
The Express asked the college to comment on the cheating allegations and Leigh’s suspension, but they did not.
“Manchester College has repeatedly failed in its duty to my husband”