Police check mix-up, inquest told

A police national computer check on a school support worker led to him being mixed up with another man with the same name, an inquest has been told.

David Baines, 57, from Wrexham was suspended from his job just hours before he apparently took his own life.

A meeting of police, education and social services was wrongly informed that Mr Baines had previous convictions for wounding and dishonesty.

The mistake was only found after Mr Baines' death. The hearing continues.

Mr Baines, who worked at St Christopher's School, Wrexham, was found dead the day after his suspension after wrongly believing he was being investigated about child abuse allegations.

In fact there had been claims of "inappropriate" phone calls with a former pupil detained in a secure unit.

"I think the suspension was handled with great sympathy, with great dignity"
Michael Boswell-Jones

The inquest in Flint heard evidence from Det Sgt Steven Lloyd about the meeting between the police, education and social services officials which led to a recommendation that Mr Baines should be suspended.

Det Sgt Lloyd described a mix-up during a police national computer check.

During the meeting officials were wrongly informed that Mr Baines had previous convictions for wounding and dishonesty.

'Dignity'

In fact, the convictions belonged to another man who happened to have the same name.

The inquest also heard from Michael Boswell-Jones, a school liaison officer at St Christopher's School.

He told of a meeting in October 2003 during which Mr Baines was informed he was being suspended.

Mr Boswell-Jones said that before the meeting, both he and the headteacher, Maxine Grant, had been advised not to tell Mr Baines the reasons for his suspension, regarding the phone calls.

The investigation concerned telephone conversations between Mr Baines and a former pupil, where some of the tone was considered inappropriate, and confidentiality rules had been breached, the inquest heard.

'Turmoil'

Cross-examined by counsel acting for Mr Baines' family, Mr Boswell-Jones said he did not regret the decision to keep the details from Mr Baines.

He had been concerned it could prejudice any investigation.

"It's an extremely unfortunate situation but the right decisions were made," said Mr Boswell-Jones.

"I think the suspension was handled with great sympathy, with great dignity," he added.

Later the inquest heard evidence from Tom Davies, the education support manager for Wrexham Council.

Mr Davies had advised Maxine Grant and Michael Boswell-Jones about the suspension procedures and how Mr Baines should be informed of the decision.

"It was decided he should not be told the reasons why," said Mr Davies. "I believe we did the correct thing," he told the court.

Pupil

Mr Davies said that he had a telephone conversation with Mr Baines on the day of the suspension.

"He gave me no indication that he was in a state of turmoil," said Mr Davies.

On Monday, the inquest heard how Mr Baines had taken a number of telephone calls at his home from one pupil on a regular basis.

The 14-year-old had been feeling down and rang almost nightly and Mr Baines would talk to him to try to cheer him up.

His wife Jacqueline said that the calls were always above board.

Mrs Baines told the inquest that if he had known the reason for his suspension he would still be here today.

The hearing continues on Wednesday.