A jury has been shown CCTV clips of a Crymych man’s detention, restraint, then attempted resuscitation at Haverfordwest police station in the moments leading up to his death.

The inquest into the death of former teacher Meirion James continues in County Hall, Haverfordwest, this week, and is expected to last until January 25.

Mr James died on January 31, 2015, aged 53, following restraint at Haverfordwest Police Station, where he had been taken after calling the police to say he had assaulted his mother.

On Monday, January 14, the jury was shown CCTV footage of Mr James at the police station and heard that he told officers he was bi-polar and that his medication had been changed after nearly 30 years.

CCTV footage showed the cell door being closed as observations were reduced from Level Four to Level One after he had been examined by a doctor, and a camera inside watched over Mr James as he lay on his bunk.

The recording then showed Mr James rush out of his cell door as it was opened and ended up on the floor during a scuffle with officers.

Alarms sounded as officers ran to restrain him. The camera view was partially obscured by a door as he became unresponsive, and a defibrillator was seen to be brought to the cell corridor area before paramedics arrived to take over.

Mr James was transported to Withybush hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11.27am.

Custody sergeant Peter Jelley, who was on duty when Mr James was brought to the station just after 5am, told the hearing that he decided that Mr James should be placed on Level Four observations, because of his behaviour and mental health issues, which included CCTV coverage of his cell, and the cell door kept open with an officer nearby to constantly monitor him.

Sergeant Jelley said: “He said he had bi-polar and had been on lithium for a number of years and that had recently changed.

“He seemed very agitated and anxious. He regularly said that he had issues with his medication.”

The inquest heard that Mr James said he needed to be in a hospital, stating: “It’s terrible what has happened tonight to my mother. I need to be put into a psychiatric hospital.”

He added: “The doctor took me off lithium after 30 years, if it was not for that this would not have happened.”

Police sergeant Tim Waring who was also on duty that morning, was heard on CCTV from the custody suite stating he thought Mr James had the ‘potential to do something daft’. Questioned about his comment he said: “I would imagine I meant he could have done something to himself or another.”

The inquest heard previously that Mr James had been diagnosed with manic-depression and had previously been admitted into hospital due to his mental health, but was prescribed lithium and had been predominantly stable since the mid 1990s.

Police officers were given refresher training on dealing with the detention of people with mental health issues just days before Mr James’ death, the inquest heard.

The inquest continues.