Arrest decision wrong, officer tells Metro death inquest

The circumstances surrounding the death of a woman on the Midland Metro warranted the "immediate arrest" of her ex-fiance - but senior officers wanted him treated as a witness, an inquest was told.

The revelations came at the inquest of Cheryl Flanagan, who was hit by a tram minutes after arguing with her policeman boyfriend.

The 30-year-old was struck by a Birmingham-bound Metro at around 11pm on December 12, 2003.

Miss Flanagan's parents told officers that she and former fiance Ian Bracey, who is in his 50s and was a serving West Midlands Police officer at the time, had argued in the minutes leading up to her being struck by a tram.

He was no longer at The Crescent stop when officers saw Miss Flanagan, of Greencroft, Bilston, and efforts were made to find him, the inquest was told.

Coroner Mr Geraint Williams questioned British Transport Police Inspector Jeanne Arnold, suggesting to her: "These circumstances warranted an immediate arrest, didn't they?"]

She replied: "Yes, sir."

Mr Williams said: "Yet at an extremely senior level that decision was negatived.

"Did you consider disobeying him and going around to arrest Mr Bracey yourself?"

The officer said she had not.

Mr Williams asked: "Was your inclination that Mr Bracey should have been arrested?" She replied: "He was obviously a significant witness, he's the last person to see her alive.

"But the detective chief superintendent said he's a significant witness so I obviously went with what he said, him being more experienced in this kind of matter."

The inquest was told Mr Bracey was distressed when told about Miss Flanagan's death.

He said that he had left her at the scene after an argument.

The hearing continues.

By Mike Woods