Investigators decided to arrest long serving Sergeant Ben Websdale within two hours of receiving information from a vulnerable, drunk young woman that they were friends.
Officers had found the woman on top of cliffs at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, where she was experiencing a mental health crisis on October 23, 2024, at around 9.15am.
The decision to arrest him had been made by 11.30am, an inquest at Horsham Coroner’s Court heard.
The 50-year-old officer from Worthing was arrested at a police station in Eastbourne after he was called in to fill an overtime shift on October 23, 2024.
The vulnerable woman, only identified as Female A, was not able to be formally interviewed after speaking to police.
Sgt Websdale was found dead on January 16 last year by his ex-wife Michelle Websdale after he was told Sussex Police had handed their investigation to the police watchdog.
Tributes flooded in following the news of his death.
Mark Aldred, who is representing Sgt Websdale’s family during the inquest, accused the Sussex Police Professional Standards Department of rushing to make the decision to arrest Sgt Websdale and “going fishing” before making any inquiries into his background and without a formal complaint.
“You jumped to arrest because you wanted to conduct a wider inquiry,” he said.
Detective Inspector Laura Hillier-Diamond of the PSD said her responsibility was to the public.
“I had grounds to arrest and needed to consider that there had been contact with another female,” she said.
“There was no information to suggest he had done anything like this before but we know from other cases, it’s not always as simple as that.
“I had to consider if that interaction with other people had taken place.
“He did provide an explanation and mitigation but that’s what I have to consider at the point of arrest.”
The IOPC took over the investigation into suspected misconduct in a public office.
Police ended their investigation when Sgt Websdale died.
The IOPC continued its investigation and decided there was a case to answer even though no recommendation could be made to the CPS to consider charges after the officer died.
Sgt Websdale’s family argue the decision to arrest him so quickly, and in his workplace, had a major impact on his mental health.
Ms Websdale said her ex-husband was devastated by his arrest: “To say he was broken is a massive understatement.
“He was a shadow of his former self.”
Despite divorcing, the pair stayed close and Ms Websdale said her ex described her as his “copilot”.
She said she believes Sgt Websdale was the victim of a witch hunt by Sussex Police.
The sergeant, with an unblemished 22-year record and two awards for bravery and conduct, was traumatised by years of stress and the threat of losing his job, she said.
Sgt Websdale was arrested before investigators from the force Professional Standards Dept had looked at his recent service.
In an emotional statement at the start of his inquest, Ms Websdale, 49, told the court her ex-husband was an excellent police officer who was approachable, firm and fair.
“He had a genuine concern for the welfare of prisoners,” she said.
“I believe his role, the cynicism and the way he was treated contributed to his death.”
It was heard Sgt Websdale had broken down during an inquest earlier in 2024 after being questioned about another vulnerable prisoner who took his own life after being released from police custody by Sgt Websdale.
He feared what might happen if another vulnerable prisoner took their own life after being released from his custody, Ms Websdale said.
“It really touched him,” she said.
“He always questioned if he or others could have done more.
“It really affected him.
“The inquest really traumatised him.
“I never believed the support he was given was sufficient.
“He was investigated and cleared.”
Following his arrest, Sgt Websdale spiralled into depression and panic attacks, it was heard.
The court heard he was twice prescribed antidepressants.
Ms Websdale criticised the “disproportionate” response from Sussex Police.
“I believe this was the cause of his spiral,” she said.
“The arrest at work was humiliating and shaming.
“The approach taken left him shamed and isolated.
“If you knew Ben, you would know he had no malicious or bad intentions.
“He was an amazing officer who just wanted to help people.”
As part of a campaign by the Police Federation, Ms Websdale said: “Someone needs to step in and stop this witch hunt of police officers.
“It needs to stop and it needs to before we lose anybody else.”
DI Hillier Diamond said: “I knew Ben.
“He was a decent, fine person who I thought the world of.
“It was not an easy decision because I didn’t want to think that that was a possibility but the necessity of my job is I have to think these things and prevent any risk to the public.”
Sgt Websdale joined Sussex Police in 2001 and was quickly promoted to sergeant.
He was also a Police Federation representative.
In 2014, he was given an outstanding leadership award.
He was honoured again the following year after saving a colleague from a man armed with a samurai sword.
The inquest at the coroner’s court in Horsham continues.
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