New probe into police’s handling of death may end devastated family’s ‘years of hell’
Mar 11 2009 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo

THE parents of an epileptic schoolboy who died during an outdoor pursuits holiday hope a probe into police’s handling of the case will end their “five years of hell”.

Cerebral palsy sufferer Thomas Frost, 15, from Whitchurch, Cardiff, died in July 2003 while staying at an activity centre in Bodmin, Cornwall.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission last night announced caseworkers would examine Devon and Cornwall Constabulary’s inquiry following allegations from Thomas’ father, accountant Gregory Frost, the force was “incompetent and negligent”.

IPCC Commissioner Rebecca Marsh said: “I have recently met with Thomas’ parents and I explained to them the IPCC role and how this investigation will be carried out.

“This is a complex matter and in the circumstances I have decided that an independent investigation is appropriate.”

The IPCC said police officers attending the activity centre following Thomas’ death quizzed staff and decided the death was not suspicious.

A post-mortem examination found Thomas had suffered an epileptic fit and inhaled stomach acid, causing damage to his lungs.

The report gave “massive intrapulmonary haemorrhage” as the cause of death.

But Mr Frost, a director of Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre in Whitchurch, which helps youngsters with cerebral palsy, obtained an independent report on the post-mortem examination which disputed the findings.

The IPCC said the report also concluded insufficient effort was made to eliminate other causes, including foul play.

Mr Frost sent the report to the coroner for Cornwall in September 2003 who requested a police investigation into the death.

The IPCC said the investigation was carried out by a senior detective.

An inquest was held in December 2007 in Taunton, Somerset, and the coroner recorded the cause of death was “unascertained” because necessary post-mortem tests were not carried out.

The inquest noted that “intrapulmonary haemorrhage” was not a valid cause of death. It also heard nursing staff at the centre, Churchtown Farm, had no medical qualifications or training.

Mr Frost made his complaint to the police last December and it was referred to the IPCC in January.

He declined to comment ahead of the IPCC investigation, but said he and wife Wendy had been through “five years of hell trying to get some justice for Thomas”, who was a pupil at Ysgol Erw’r Delyn special needs school in Penarth.

Mr Frost, 55, added: “The inquest was completely inadequate; there is an awful lot that needs to be said.”

A Devon and Cornwall Constabulary spokesman said: “We are co-operating fully with the IPCC inquiry, but it would be inappropriate for us to comment further until the investigation is complete.”

PinkPasty:- "Well if anyone believes that Bullsh*t from the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary spokesperson. I would warn the family not to have any hope or faith in the conduct of the Independent Police Complaints Commission whom I know in my personal experience choose to ignore evidence, ignore witnesses & generally do practically whatever it takes to cover up misconduct, abuses, violations carried out by police officers like those I have encountered in The Devon & Cornwall Constabulary.

The next cover up will be the Cornwall police involvement & post death conduct of Cornwall police following the suicide last year of a 49 year old gay man in Cornwall....Corruption & dishonesty, the public need look no further than a local Cornwall police station."