Nurse stated arrested man was ‘faking sickness’ in police cell – subsequent factor he was lifeless

Custody nurse Sean Cregg has been cleared of gross negligence manslaughter over the death of William Cameron, 38, who Cregg believed was faking illness in a police cell near Reading.

A custody nurse has been acquitted over the death of a man he believed was “faking” illness. Sean Cregg, 36, originally from Dublin, broke down in tears in the dock at the Old Bailey after being found not guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of William Cameron, 38.

A jury, which deliberated for 25 hours and 25 minutes, also cleared Mr Cregg of a health and safety charge on Wednesday. The trial heard how Mr Cameron was under the influence of drink and drugs when he was arrested in Reading town centre at 1.50am on January 8, 2020, while walking his dog, Laura.

His partner, Theresa Yearwood, had called police to raise concerns about him, despite neither party sustaining injuries. She later insisted he had not assaulted her and that it was merely a “figure of speech”.

Mr Cameron pleaded to be released as he was arrested on suspicion of assault, collapsing before being placed into a police van. By the time he arrived at Loddon Valley police station, Mr Cameron had become unresponsive and limp and had to be carried into a cell.

Family members of Mr Cameron present in court became visibly distressed when police bodyworn footage was shown of his final interactions with officers and the moment he collapsed.

Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC alleged that Mr Cregg had carried out the “most cursory” examination of Mr Cameron while in custody, after being requested to do so by a duty custody sergeant. She informed the jury: “Sean Cregg thought that William Cameron was drunk and faking his unconsciousness and did nothing.”

While in the cell, Mr Cregg is alleged to have commented: “He has had something nice,” which was claimed to be a reference to drugs, though the defendant refuted this.

Mr Cameron was left lying face down with no efforts made to wake him during the night or at 6am when Cregg checked on him through the cell spyhole and observed he hadn’t shifted position. At 7.04am a police officer peered through the spyhole and grew worried as he couldn’t detect any breathing.

Emergency services were summoned but it was “too late” and he was declared dead at 8.16am, having suffered a heart attack, Ms Johnson stated. Had Mr Cameron been transported to hospital when Mr Cregg assessed him, he would have lived, the court heard.

Taking the stand, Mr Cregg, from Newbury in Berkshire, admitted that he thought Mr Cameron was faking it and he wished he had done more. He told the jury: “I absolutely accept I should have taken more observations, been more thorough. At that time I truly believed he was OK. In hindsight, I wish I had done more. I believed he was being obstructive. If I felt he was unwell I would absolutely have sent him to hospital.”

Mr Cregg informed jurors that he understood Mr Cameron had been mobile and communicating before being placed in custody and he accepted what officers relayed to him at “face value”. He continued: “Based on the observations I did take, I genuinely thought he was drunk and that was probably compounded by all the other detainees I had seen in custody.”

Cregg, who was employed by Mountain Healthcare agency at the time, told the court that Mr Cameron had been breathing, responded to light, displayed a strong pulse and good colour during his examination.

He informed jurors that he had witnessed numerous occasions when somebody had “pretended to be unconscious” one moment and then be “jumping up and down” in their cell the next.

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