AN ARMY sergeant major who had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder killed himself days after being accused of "serious sexual offences", an inquest into his death heard yesterday (May 23).

Sgt Major Bill Bielby of 1 Rifles was found dead in his flat at Beachley Barracks, near Chepstow, 12 days after he had been arrested by Wiltshire Police, the inquest in Gloucester was told.

Gloucestershire coroner Katy Skerrett recorded a conclusion of suicide.

At the time of his death police had not investigated the allegations, beyond interviewing the woman who had made the sex assault complaint against him.

Sgt Major Bielby was arrested on October 19, 2017, the day after the allegations had been made.

He was released on bail with a condition not to enter Wiltshire, and his bail conditions meant he could not see his own children.

The coroner said Sgt Major Bielby had been "humiliated and scared" following his arrest.

"He could not see his children and he was at risk of losing his army career, which meant everything to him," she added.

The inquest examined concerns from Sgt Major Bielby's ex wife Carla Ford that the Army did not do enough to support Sgt Major Bielby emotionally in the period following his arrest, while he was awaiting the outcome of the police investigation.

The coroner said she would consider over the next ten days whether there were any issues in the way the army dealt with Sgt Major Bielby after his arrest requiring her to issue a 'Preventing Further Deaths' report.

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