Tributes are pouring in for a devoted police sergeant and loving mother-of-two after her sudden death.
Coleen Mellor was found dead in her home and is believed to have taken her own life.
Her ex-husband Craig Mellor made the devastating discovery when he went round to Coleen’s home, to pick up her dog on January 15.
Coleen and Craig were together for 12 years before they split up in 2025, and share two children, Noah and Charlie.
Despite their separation, the pair remained close friends and shared responsibility for looking after their teenage sons, who are now suffering from the ‘unimaginable grief’ of having to live without their mother.
Coleen had worked her way up to becoming a police sergeant and had aspirations of becoming a detective inspector.
She was described by her long-time friend Elisia Sharpe as a ‘wonderful and kind’ mother.
Coleen’s family and friends have been shocked by her death, and have set up a GoFundMe page to support her boys.
Craig, 42, said: ‘I walked in and I found her.
‘It was a shock, especially when you don’t expect it. It is not like there were any signs.
‘We were speaking night before and everything seemed fine and normal. The shock of it doesn’t feel real.
‘Everything was so nice at Christmas, everything was perfect. She was at work in the morning and I cooked Christmas dinner for the family. We agreed that we would always spend it together with the kids.
‘That is another reason my head is so puzzled with it all. We were close, if she ever felt upset she would pick up the phone, we’d always speak about it.
‘I just think what is big enough or scary enough that makes you feel that this is the only way out.’
Craig and Coleen were married in 2003 and remained friends even after their divorce.
The family have not been able to plan a funeral yet, as Noah is sitting his GCSE exams.
Craig, a paint sprayer, is now coming to terms with having to raise his children as a single parent.
He added: ‘My eldest has exams and other son has birthday next week so we don’t have a date for the funeral yet. The boys live with me.
‘It is a scary thought, it is different being the only parent. When there is two of you it is easier to deal with situations, they have two people they can come to. I worry they may not be able to talk to me.’
Elisia Sharpe first met Coleen in 2010, when their children were born in the same hospital on the same day.
She said they became ‘inseparable’ friends shortly afterwards and became godmothers for each other’s second children.
Elisia said the loss of her friend was a ‘horrendous shock’ to her and her family.
She said: ‘I am from London but l moved to Yorkshire in 2003.
‘She was amazing for me, I am quite far from family and friends and she was great support to me.
‘Me and my husband split up and she was a rock for me. Her family was like my family.
‘She lived around the corner from me, so we saw each other all the time
‘I feel like time stopped that day, all of the days are a blur. It is such a loss, feels like living a nightmare.’
Elisia has started the fundraiser to help Craig and the children through the ‘incredibly difficult’ time.
A West Yorkshire Police Federation spokesperson said: ‘All at West Yorkshire Police Federation are devastated to report the off-duty death of our colleague Sgt Coleen Mellor last week.
‘Our thoughts are with her family, friends and close colleagues at this time and we are supporting them as best as we can.
‘Coleen will be remembered on the Wakefield and Leeds district teams as a popular colleague and she will be much missed.
‘Officers and police staff members who are struggling should know that they are not alone, and that there are people there to help.’
– For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
