Post-raid trauma of security guard

An inquest into the death of a security guard, who died while on sick leave after suffering a terrifying armed robbery, was told how he begged his GP to sign him fit for work over fears he would lose his job.

Keith Williamson (35) was attacked by three masked men and threatened with a gun while helping fill a cash machine at Rochdale Tesco on 8 May 2006.

He was found hanged with his wrists slashed at his Bower Street home, in Oldham, on 12 October 2006.

An inquest at Oldham Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard how Mr Williamson told his GP, Dr Saphal Kanti Pal, he was suffering from flashbacks and disturbed sleep a week after the ordeal.

Dr Pal, from Parks Medical Practice, Royton, diagnosed stress that day as well as post-traumatic stress on follow-up visits.

Mr Williamson was prescribed sleeping tablets Zopiclone and was given sick notes to cover him until August 8.

But on 3 August, Mr Williamson told Dr Pal his company, G4 Securicor, was pushing him to return to work before he felt ready.

Dr Pal, who had received a letter from G4 saying Mr Williamson was fit to work, told the inquest he did not believe Mr Williamson was ready to go back but felt he had no choice than to sign him fit for work.

He said: “He was insisting I sign him off or he would lose his job, so I had no option.

“At every consultation he mentioned being bullied. I didn’t think he was fit for work.”

Following the attack, Mr Williamson attended assessment sessions arranged by G4 Securicor with trauma therapist Trish Waring.

An initial report on 17 May, which was sent to G4, said Mr Williamson was psychologically fit for work. But he was deemed unfit for work after a further two meetings in June and July. Mrs Waring said she had not stated in following reports that her views on his fitness to work had changed as Mr Williamson was still off work with physical injuries and was covered by a sick note.

She said Mr Williamson had told her he was drinking much more than usual to cope with stress. She also felt he had not met criteria for post-traumatic stress and his grievances with the company, rather than trauma from the attack, was the key issue.

Mr Williamson had submitted grievances on 14 July about his sick pay being stopped, not receiving proper training and the way he was spoken to on the day of the attack.

Susan Edwards, human resources manager for G4, said Mr Williamson’s sick pay was withheld after he failed to attend a second compulsory welfare meeting on 7 July.

The inquest continues.