Fire chief took his own life after 'harassment'

Scrutiny over qualifications and stories left him ‘broken’

- JANE HAYNES News Reporter

THE ‘broken’ fire chief of West Midlands Fire Service took his own life in the midst of an investigation into his qualifications and after years of ‘harassment,’ an inquest has ruled.

Wayne Brown committed suicide, aged 54, while facing intense scrutiny, including multiple media inquiries.

His distraught family said they believed a story published the night before he was found dead had been ‘the final straw.’

Mr Brown left a final note naming the man who he claims had harassed him for years and stated ‘I can’t do this any more.’

The contents of the note, found by police, named Benjamin Walker, a fire training expert, who had made multiple complaints about Mr Brown from 2021 onwards.

Mr Walker had been facing trial charged with criminal harassment at the time, but the case against him was subsequently dropped by the CPS. He had always denied the charge, while confirming he had raised ‘whistleblower’ concerns about Mr Brown’s suitability for the job.

Mr Brown was found dead at home in Birmingham last January, 2024. In the week before, he had been told he was facing a formal investigation over a complaint he had falsified his CV and application for the job by claiming he had completed an MBA when he had not.