Officer took his own life over text messages, inquest is told

allegations against him would shatter his life-long dream of becoming a police officer, an inquest was told.

David Spencer Briggs, 26, who served as a Special Constable with North Yorkshire Police, was suspended from his part-time job as a tutor at York College in June last year after a student alleged he had sent her two inappropriate text messages.

He was also told not to report for duties as a Special while the matter was under investigation.

His mother, Christine Briggs, told the inquest he had wanted to become a policeman since he was five but feared he would never realise his ambition after the 17-year-old female student had made the allegation just before he was due to go for a medical with the RAF Police.

The hearing was told his body was found on waste ground near Langley Mill railway station in Derbyshire, to which he had gone from York by train.

Relatives and friends said David, of Glen Road, York, was adamant he had not sent the texts but believed technology had been used to make it appear they had come from his phone.

They said sending such messages would have been totally out of character, they did not believe he had sent them and had had no idea he would take his own life.

Mrs Briggs said he was a “worrier” and had been crying after he was suspended.

Nathan Maude, a friend who also lived in Glen Road, said David was “obsessed” with joining the police and was “hugely distressed” when he was suspended. “He was really in a bad way,” he said.

Friend Peter Duffy, also of Glen Road, said joining the police was all he talked about. He said he had advised David to “stick it out,” but he had replied: “Mud sticks.”

Sara Easton, formerly a Special Constable but now a regular officer, said: “Policing was everything to him. It is all he ever wanted to do. He was so focused on doing that.”

She said he had applied to join North Yorkshire Police in 2012 but been rejected at the final interview.

“He was really upset about it.”

The inquest was told that earlier in the year, the force’s professional standards department had investigated him for sending emails from his police computer to his home computer, which breached rules although they did not contain confidential information.

Jonathan Leach, senior acting coroner for York, said David had left a note indicating an intention to take his own life and concluded he had intended to cause his own death.

‘David, we love you for eternity’

LOVING tributes were paid to David Briggs after the inquest.

Mother Christine and brother Dennis said he died “devastatingly young” and had had a “truly wonderful impact on this earth”.

They said: “We feel a void in our family which can never be replaced. However, the love we have for him will never cease.

“David achieved a great deal in his life, and the inquest confirmed the high regard and love of those people whose lives he touched.

David – you leave behind an incredibly proud mother, father, brother and sisters; and for the many around the world who knew you, we will forever miss you, until we meet again some day. We love you for all eternity.”

North Yorkshire Police’s assistant chief constable, Paul Kennedy, said Mr Briggs was a loved and respected member of the Special Constabulary.

York College said he began working as a part-time tutor in the Media and Performing Arts Division in February 2012.

They said: “David was well liked by his team and had great enthusiasm for the subject. He also made a valued contribution to the wider college. Staff and students were devastated by the news of his death and the thoughts of everyone at York College remain with David, his family and friends.”