Nurse thought detainee was 'obstructive' before death

A nurse on duty when an arrested man died in a police station has told a court he thought the unconscious detainee was simply being "obstructive".

Sean Cregg, 37, was the assigned healthcare professional when William Cameron was brought into Loddon Valley police station in Reading, Berkshire, on the night of 7 January 2020.

The jury at the Old Bailey has heard that heard Cameron, who was 38, died of a heart attack caused by a mix of alcohol, methadone and other drugs after he was arrested.

Cregg denies gross negligence manslaughter.

In addition to acquittal, the jury can also consider an alternative guilty verdict on a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

It was shown CCTV footage of Cameron lying face down on a mat on the floor of a cell after he was brought into the police station, surrounded by police officers and being assessed by the nurse.

Questioned by defence counsel Selva Ramasamy KC, Cregg told the jury how he had believed Cameron was "alcohol dependent".

"Multiple detainees do not engage with you at all as a way to obstruct the custody process." he said.

"I was told at some point he was a drinker or something on those lines."

On the video Cregg is heard remarking: "He's had something nice."

Asked what he'd meant by that, Cregg said he'd meant that Cameron "had had a drink".

"The history that had been provided to me by police officers was that he was walking and talking normally until he suddenly wasn't," he said.

The court heard how Cregg borrowed a torch from a police officer and shone it in Cameron's eyes to check his pupils.

He did a test called a "trapezoid squeeze" which involved pressurising the muscles in his shoulder.

"I heard a groaning noise and his face kind of curled up and winced," he said.

"Considering the observations I did take and the history, it indicated to me that he was being obstructive, that he wasn't unconscious.

"I took a manual pulse, and it felt regular strong and normal.

"I wasn't concerned at that point.

"I truly believed that he was physically well, based on the history from the police that he was walking and talking, his behaviour on arrest, I thought he was being obstructive.

"I didn't think he needed to go to hospital."

Questioned by prosecuting counsel Zoe Johnson KC, Cregg agreed he had not filled out a record form after assessing Cameron.

The KC asked him if he "simply couldn't be bothered?"

Cregg replied: "No, that wasn't the case. I didn't believe he was unwell and because I saw another patient afterwards, it may have slipped my mind."

"Was the real reason you didn't do it that you thought he was being obstructive?" asked the prosecutor.

The defendant answered: "Right."

"Influenced all your decisions that night, didn't it?" asked the KC.

"Yes," Cregg told her, adding: "I now know, after all that has happened, that he was vulnerable."

The trial continues.