![](https://emergencyservicestimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ESS-Button-resized.png")
An inquest into the tragic death of a former West Midlands fire chief has heard that he took his own life after months of alleged harassment and questioning over his qualifications.
West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) Chief Fire Officer Wayne Brown was found dead at his home in Birmingham in January 2024.
During the first day of the hearing at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner’s Court on Monday, it emerged that Mr Brown had faced questions over claims he had erroneously included an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree from London South Bank University on his CV.
Speaking at the inquest, Satinder Sahota, monitoring officer for WMFS, said Mr Brown had admitted to him prior to his death that he had started but never finished the MBA course and apologised for putting it on his CV.
An internal ivestigation was launched at WMFS about the matter just days before Mr Brown took his own life.
Mr Brown had also been the target of multiple emails, social media posts, Freedom of Information inquiries and formal complaints to the fire service for two years, many of them relating back to his service with the London Fire Brigade or about his private life.
National media coverage of the situation was “the final straw,” according to Mr Brown’s partner, Nicola White.
Ms White told the inquest yesterday “He just couldn’t take it anymore,” adding that she had encouraged Brown to “speak to someone” but “he didn’t like to show his weaknesses.”
Mr Sahota added that he had “urged him [Mr Brown] to reach out to occupational health as the latter was feeling under pressure.
“I had to be careful with Wayne… I didn’t want to annoy him; it was quite clear he was private, and he was the most senior person in the organisation, and I didn’t want to be disrespectful of that because it would affect my relationship with him going forward.”
Satinder Sahota, monitoring officer for WMFS.
Mr Brown was the first black fire chief in the country, having been promoted to the top job at WMFS in 2023.
To read similar articles, check out our Leadership channel
