'Gross' failings led to death of young dad restrained by police after getting 'lost in the system'

'THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE KAINE STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE'

- By RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

"GROSS failings" contributed to the death of a young Nottingham father hours after he was restrained by police.

Kaine Fletcher, 26, was suffering a mental health episode when police were called to his address at the YMCA in Hucknall on July 3, 2022.

A month-long jury inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court before Coroner Alexandra Pountney concluded on Friday. The jury found multiple gross failings contributed to Mr Fletcher's death.

Mr Fletcher, originally from Strelley, suffered an unsurvivable cardiac arrest at the Queen’s Medical Centre, where he was taken after he being detained under the Mental Health Act, and died that day.

The father had been diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder and also had a history of substance abuse, having been in rehab twice.

On arrival, officers found him in an “agitated” state, speaking in incoherent sentences and “talking nonsense” He was “very paranoid” and expressing suicidal thoughts, but initially cooperated with officers when he was told he was going to be taken to hospital.

But once in the police car, his behaviour became paranoid, and he did not believe the officers were real police officers. He was then had cuffed and an officer told him he was going to be detained under the Mental Health Act.

Officers were unaware, however, that Mr Fletcher should have been taken to hospital by ambulance given the circumstances and instead called for backup to help.

There was no initial communication that he had been detained under the Mental Health Act between officers, the jury found.

The lack of communication led to shouting between officers, making Mr Fletcher more agitated, and leg restraints were also applied.

Tactical baton strikes, including strikes to Mr Fletcher's legs to gain control of him in the police car, were then used.