Man died days after being locked up as jail staff made massive error

Wales Online

2 days ago

Man died days after being locked up as jail staff made massive error
One staff member thought there was no indication the prisoner was at risk of suicide as he was 'laughing and joking'
HMP Swansea
(Image: WalesOnline)
A man hanged himself in jail shortly after being remanded for threats to burn down his own home. An inquest jury found failures by HMP Swansea and the Swansea Bay University Health Board probably contributed to the death of 52-year-old David Bassett.
Mr Bassett had been at the prison for only 36 hours when he was found hanged on December 1, 2019. He had arrived with warnings that he was at risk of suicide yet staff failed to start self-harm monitoring procedures. It comes after last month's scathing report into the death of another HMP Swansea prisoner, Mark Johnston.
At Mr Bassett's inquest his family were represented by 30 Park Place Chambers, which said he had been remanded on an arson charge after pouring petrol around his house and on himself and threatening to burn down the home while staying inside. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter.
In her report prisons ombudsman Sue McAllister said: "This was his first time in prison for 10 years. Mr Bassett arrived at Swansea with suicide and self-harm warnings, which were recorded on his person escort record and on a suicide/self-harm warning form.
"The record said that Mr Bassett was at risk of suicide and self-harm because he had tried to burn himself on November 27. The warning form said that Mr Bassett had tried to burn himself, was very depressed, that he had attempted hanging or self-strangulation in the last six months, and that he was being checked six times an hour.
"Neither the reception nurse nor the reception officer considered that suicide and self-harm prevention procedures were needed. Nor did the duty governor who also saw Mr Bassett."
When a nurse checked on Mr Bassett's cell at 5.43am on December 1 she found him hanged.
The ombudsman reported that the prison's reception officer had seen the warnings but considered there was "no indication" that Mr Bassett was at risk of suicide as he was "relaxed" and "laughing and joking with other prisoners".
Ms McAllister said: "Staff placed too much weight on Mr Bassett's appearance and what he told them rather than considering his documented risk factors. The failure to start self-harm prevention procedures was a missed opportunity to put support in place for Mr Bassett."
During the inquest the health board's mental health nurse and some prison staff accepted they should have put in place the monitoring procedures.
"Had that been done David may have been subject to increased observations in prison and should have had a cellmate on the second night," said 30 Park Place Chambers.
The jury concluded the procedures should have been opened and that although insufficient information was provided to healthcare staff they could still have requested further information. These failures were probably causative of death, the jury found.
A prison service spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts remain with the friends and family of David Bassett. We accepted all of the ombudsman's recommendations and took action to ensure that reception staff properly review and act on all relevant risk information provided upon a prisoner's arrival."
The prison service says the jail's reception staff have been reminded of the correct procedures including the need to comprehensively review all documentation on an inmate's arrival.
Swansea Bay University Health Board has been approached for comment.
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