BBC reporter Russell Joslin 'had problem' with female colleague
BBC's Russell Joslin killed himself after sexual harassment complaints
(about 3 hours later)
A BBC journalist who is thought to have killed himself had problems with a female colleague, an inquest has heard.
A BBC journalist killed himself after complaining of being sexually harassed by a female colleague, an inquest heard.
Russell Joslin, 50, a radio reporter for BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, died in hospital last October.
Russell Joslin, 50, a radio reporter for BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, died in hospital last October.
At the hearing in Leamington Spa, the coroner has ruled the identity of the woman cannot be revealed.
Coroner Louise Hunt ruled the identity of the woman could not be revealed.
Mr Joslin's father, Peter, said his son had problems with a co-worker "who you tell me mustn't be named".
Mr Joslin died in hospital from asphyxiation three days after walking in front of a bus. A verdict of suicide was recorded on Friday.
'Rapid decline'
He said his son had been admitted to a psychiatric unit last March, but seemed much better until a "rapid decline" last October.
A friend contacted the family to say Mr Joslin was thinking of killing himself, Peter Joslin, the former chief constable of Warwickshire Police, said.
On 19 October he said he was called because Mr Joslin had thrown himself under a bus and was subsequently admitted to a psychiatric unit after medical treatment.
Peter Joslin told the hearing that his son "wasn't quite there" and he "wasn't the Russell that we knew" but the family felt he was in the best place.
Mr Joslin was taken to Warwick Hospital and then to nearby St Michael's psychiatric hospital.
He was later admitted back to Warwick Hospital as an emergency patient, where he died on 22 October.
Preliminary tests found he died from asphyxiation, an earlier inquest hearing was told.
Threatening voicemail
Mr Joslin had complained to BBC managers of sexual harassment by the unidentified female colleague, the inquest heard.
Following his death an inquiry was started by the corporation, led by HR consultant Lesley Granger, a former BBC employee.
She told the hearing on Friday that the allegations made by Mr Joslin, which included unwelcome advances and threatening voicemail, spanned the years 2005-08.
Ms Granger described an incident where a manager mistakenly sent a text to Mr Joslin saying the case was "massively sensitive" as an "unfortunate event".
She is not being allowed to name at the inquest any of the individual BBC managers involved.
Peter Joslin told the inquest earlier that his son was not happy at the way the BBC handled his complaints.
At the time of Mr Joslin's death, Ms Granger said the BBC was in "some disarray" especially with the sexual abuse revelations surrounding former TV presenter and Radio 1 DJ Jimmy Savile.
BBC 5 Live's Phil Mackie, at the hearing, said it appeared allegations of sexual harassment which were officially made by Mr Joslin in March last year, were omitted from an official report sent to BBC managers.
The inquest has also heard from Rebecca Sly, a mental health liaison nurse at Warwick Hospital, where Russell was taken after he was hit by the bus.
She said that he told her he deliberately walked in front of the vehicle.
She suggested that he be admitted to a psychiatric ward, the inquest heard.
