Sussex detective's inquest hears of affair

DETAILS of a seven-year affair between a senior Sussex detective who hanged himself and the married woman officer in charge of Worthing Police were revealed at an inquest.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Torbet was found dead at his Peacehaven home on October 30, shortly before he was due to answer bail after being arrested with Chief Inspector Sharon Rowe, accused of stealing wine at Marks & Spencer at Holmbush.

Both had been suspended.

Det Chief Insp Torbet, 54, worked in the force's professional standards unit.

Daughter's death

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Six years ago, his 19-year-old daughter Rae was stabbed to death by a former boyfriend at her flat in Bexhill.

Truck driver Dellwyn James was jailed for 14 years for her murder.

Chief Insp Rowe, married with two children, was Worthing's most senior officer.

She remains suspended pending a police internal inquiry.

Public interest

The Crown Prosecution Service decided it was "not in the public interest" to take the shoplifting allegation to court.

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Mr Torbet's brother, Fraser Torbet, a former Sussex police officer who now works for the British Transport Police, told the inquest yesterday (Tuesday, March 17) : "Jim was always bitterly disappointed with the killer's sentence and never felt justice had been served.

"He never sought professional help to deal with his grief but seemed to be coping."

After his arrest for shoplifting, the officer became depressed and was diagnosed as suffering with post traumatic stress.

Sobbing

Mr Torbett said he picked his brother up from Crawley police station on the day of his arrest.

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"He started sobbing uncontrollably, clutching his chest and bending over. His breathing was also irregular."

When they returned to Mr Torbet's house, his brother admitted placing a noose in the loft.

He told his brother he had also sat with electric cables round his neck and then taken a knife to bed with him.

Mental health

Coroner Alan Craze was told how Mr Torbet's mental health deteriorated and on October 10, when he answered his bail, he was deemed unfit for interview by Sussex Police medical examiner Dr Robert Sparks.

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Dr Anna Moon, Mr Torbet's GP, said he had talked through his problems at the surgery and explained he was also concerned about his affair with Sharon Rowe.

Chief Insp Rowe, 44, had told Mr Torbet she was reluctant to break up her family.

Fraser Torbett had been staying every night with Mr Torbet and when he returned to the address late on October 29, he found a note on the front door.

Tragic death

It read: "Do not come in alone, phone the police. I am sorry."

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Alan Craze recorded a verdict of suicide and said: "This is a most tragic death.

"I knew Jim professionally and I had dealings with him on a number of occasions.

"I found him to be a pleasant, efficient and intelligent officer and I was surprised and horrified to hear about his death and the circumstances surrounding it.

"I knew professionally the awful events surrounding the death of his daughter and I have to say he was never the same man after it as he was before it."

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