I “felt bullied” by Lincolnshire LIVES CEO – former trustee

The BBC has since been contacted by a further nine of the charity’s former and current staff and volunteers, including retired anaesthetist Dr Sagar.

He was a volunteer medical responder for LIVES between 1987 and 2020 and a trustee of the charity for more than 30 years, including periods as chair of trustees.

Dr Sagar said he had raised concerns about the charity’s chief executive, Nikki Cooke, after an incident at a small event in Sleaford in October 2019.

He said the chief executive “tore strips off” him for making a speech in which he praised the work of LIVES’ fire service volunteer responders, without asking for her permission first.

He said: “Afterwards, she rushed over to me and I was told off like a schoolboy.

“I was having strips torn off me for having dared to say anything at that meeting.”

Dr Sagar said he was “very upset” by the incident and “felt bullied by her”, concerns he raised with the chair of trustees at the time. He resigned six months later.

Ms Cooke did not comment on the allegations, but the charity’s trustees said the allegations were “false” and “Dr Sagar’s recollection of events and those of LIVES staff who attended is at considerable variance”.

The trustees said LIVES staff had told them Dr Sagar “interrupted proceedings”, they thought he was critical of the charity, and said his “actions were inappropriate”.

They said the “chief executive and other members of the LIVES staff felt it prudent to steer him away from the stage”.

Two other people, who attended the event, told the BBC the chief executive had taken Dr Sagar to one side afterwards and “gave him a dressing down”.