Dead Pc's partner will sue force

Diana Wakeford and Kevin Brinkman planned to marry

The partner of a police officer killed while identifying Thailand's tsunami victims is to sue Cheshire Constabulary over his death.

Pc Kevin Brinkman, 33, died and two of his colleagues were hurt when their minibus crashed in Phuket last March.

His partner Diana Wakeford decided to sue after it was claimed at an inquest the minibus driver was negligent.

A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded by Cheshire Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg on Friday.

Ms Wakeford's solicitor, Philip Andrews, said he was confident she had a strong case against the Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary.

It is ironically tragic that Pc Brinkman had gone to Thailand in order to help others Nicholas Rheinberg, Cheshire Coroner

"The coroner found as fact that the officers were on duty at the time and that means the Chief Constable is liable for the negligence of his officer," he said.

Pc Brinkman, originally from Greenock, Inverclyde, lived with Ms Wakeford and their two-year-old daughter Chloe in Northwich.

He and his colleagues had been in Thailand as part of the British Police Response Team sent after the Boxing Day disaster.

The Crewe inquest was told the three officers were travelling to view a police boat which had been washed 1,800m inland by the tsunami.

The driver, Pc John Briscoe, travelled past the turn off for the wreckage and tried to perform a U-turn on the Takua Pa Road, in Khao Lak, when the minibus was hit by a coach travelling behind it.

Multiple injuries

Pc Brinkman, who was also known as Kevin Nicolson, was sitting on the back seat but not wearing a seatbelt and thrown 50m from the bus.

He died at the scene from chest injuries.

The Royal Thai Police said at the time both drivers would be charged with causing death by dangerous driving and Mr Briscoe would also face a charge of driving without an international driving permit.

It is not clear if Thai police have brought charges against Mr Briscoe, the inquest heard.

Det Con Ray Gordge, also of Cheshire Constabulary, is also claiming compensation from the force after suffering multiple injuries.

Cheshire Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said: "It is ironically tragic that Pc Brinkman had gone to Thailand in order to help others.

Family supported

"I hope his family have some comfort that he died in the execution of his duties as a police officer."

After the hearing, a spokesman for Cheshire Constabulary said the force would continue to support Mr Brinkman's family.

He said: "We do not believe that it benefits anyone to be talking about compensation and financial settlements, on a day when the friends and family of Kevin Brinkman have attended the Coroner's Court in relation to his tragic death.

"In the meantime our insurance company are involved, as is usual in respect of such claims."

Pc Brinkman joined Cheshire Constabulary in March 1994 and in recent years served with the Community Action Team based in Warrington.

In 2002 he was awarded a commendation for bravery after arresting two armed robbers who were holding up a jeweller's in Stockton Heath.