Ollie sent his wife an alarming photo police 'dismissed' — hours later he was dead

A young man who was not immediately graded "high risk" by police despite sending his wife a disturbing photo hinting at suicidal thoughts was "failed at every turn". Ollie Roberts reached out for help several times in his last weeks, such as three hospital visits, including after an attempt to end his life. When the 29-year-old man sent his wife Leah the photo suggesting he was going to end his life, Ollie's mum rang police. Despite 999 call handler grading Ollie as "high risk", Dorset Police did not grade him as such. That meant his mobile phone data could not be used to trace him. A jury returned a narrative verdict at Ollie's inquest at Bournemouth Coroners' Court, saying there were missed opportunities, and a failure to assess the risk contributed to Ollie's death. They also ruled there had been "insufficient and delayed responses" by Dorset Police. Eventually, examination of Ollie's phone showed he had been alive for nearly six hours after calling Leah. Speaking after the inquest, Ollie's mum Penny Dale said: "He could have been saved if they had traced him immediately through his phone. "He was literally begging for help. In his last weeks he went to hospital three times - the last time after he had failed in an attempt to hang himself. Each time he was sent away. It was heartbreaking to hear that; if only someone had helped him he would still be alive." Ollie, who was a carer, had been arrested after his estranged wife claimed he had become "aggressive" and refused to hand over their baby son, the inquest heard. Penny said Ollie was cleared of the charges but the inquest was told one police chief branded him "suicidal for sympathy" when he made threats to take his life. Penny, who was at the inquest, added: "When I heard that phrase it made me feel physically sick. What a terrible thing to say about anyone. Ollie was crying out for help, not making idle threats." On January 25, 2024, father-of-one Ollie went to Bournemouth hospital after an attempt to take his life. The hospital had no beds but the mental health nurse tried to find him somewhere to stay. When Ollie left, the nurse phoned police saying he should be sectioned for his own safety. Two days later he sent the alarming picture to Leah, the mother of his son, which escalated his family's concern. Paying tribute to her son, Penny, who often wears a heart pendant in which part of Ollie's ashes are contained, said: "He was a big bear of a man but he still loved cuddles from his mum." At the inquest in March, Coroner Rachael Griffin ordered for a prevention of future deaths notice to be sent to Dorset Police and Derbyshire Police, as Ollie previously lived in the latter patch. The photograph in question has been referred to in the document. Penny revealed that after Ollie's death she made 11 complaints to police about the way they treated him. She said: "Eight of them were upheld. I hope lessons have been learnt. "One of the reasons I am speaking out now is because I don't want anyone else in Ollie's situation to be treated the way he was. And I don't want any family to suffer the way we have. To the end of my days I won't believe he meant to do it — he was just let down so badly." The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.