Latest news with #HMPStokeHeath
Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Prisoners get a lie-in as quarry construction forced to start later
Prisoners have been guaranteed their weekend lie-in as a Lib Dem-led council approved quarry works, provided construction starts after 9am. Bosses at HMP Stoke Heath in Shropshire convinced Grundon Sand & Gravel to start work late on Saturdays so they don't disturb inmates' 'quality of life'. Prisoners at the category C jail are allowed to lie-in beyond 7.30am on a Saturday and governors were worried the noisy blasting work would disrupt their sleep. Shropshire council approved the plans after adjustments were made to the application, including limiting its operating hours. The prison had objected to the original proposals after the firm applied for permission to extend its quarry in Tern Hill, Market Drayton, Shropshire, last August. Cushman & Wakefield, on behalf of HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) wrote: 'HMPPS have particular concerns regarding the proposed hours of working on Saturdays where operations are expected to take place from 7am – 1pm. 'From Monday to Friday, prisoners are woken up at 7.30am for activities at the establishment, which include the employment opportunities that some of the prisoners are involved in. 'On Saturdays, prisoners are permitted to sleep in beyond 7.30am. 'HMPPS are therefore concerned that prisoners are likely to experience some level of disruption to their sleep from the operations taking place on Saturdays from 7am, and this could potentially impact their amenity and quality of life.' Construction plans predict the extraction of about 1.2 million tonnes of sand and gravel from the site over a period of 15 years at a rate of around 80,000 tonnes each year. It also outlined plans to use the site as a solar farm while quarrying is underway, partly to provide power for the site, but also to supply electricity back to the grid. The proposal was put before Shropshire Council's northern planning committee this week, where councillors voted unanimously to grant planning permission. As a result of HMPPS concerns, the quarry will be unable to operate before 9am on Saturdays, with no operations taking place on Sunday. Approving the plan, the local planning officer said: 'The potential impacts on the local area, which includes an RAF facility, a young offenders institution and dwellings, can be mitigated and minimised to an acceptable level through site management controls which can be secured by planning conditions. 'There would be some impacts on the local area due to the nature of the proposal, such as from the visibility of the operation and additional traffic levels. 'However, it is considered that these would be mitigated to an acceptable level when balanced against the benefits of the proposal. 'These benefits include the creation of five full-time jobs directly, with a further six part-time indirect positions, a significant level of biodiversity net gain, and the provision of renewable energy from solar panels.'
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Pictured: Inmate, 46, found dead in his cell as fellow prisoner, 26, is charged with murder
A prisoner was was allegedly murdered by another inmate has been pictured for the first time. Neil Ashby, 46, was found dead in his cell at HMP Stoke Heath, near Market Drayton, Shropshire, at around 7.40am on Tuesday. Fellow prisoner Jonathan Alcide, 26, has been charged with his murder, West Mercia Police have said. No further details about the alleged attack have been released at this time. Alcide has been remanded in custody and will appear at Telford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Court records show that Ashby appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court in January this year accused of harassment. It was said that he had breached a restraining order imposed the month before by turning up at a woman's place of work. The case was due to be heard at Wolverhampton Crown Court on February 21 at 10am for sentencing. A spokesperson for West Mercia police said yesterday: 'A man has been charged with murder following the death of an inmate in HMP Stoke Heath on Tuesday morning (July 1). 'Jonathan Alcide, aged 26, of HMP Stoke Heath, remains in police custody and is due to appear at Telford Magistrates Court tomorrow (July 3).' A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice added: 'Police are investigating the death of a prisoner at HMP Stoke Heath on Tuesday 1 July. 'It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.' HMP Stoke Heath is a men's Category C prison that houses nearly 800 inmates. In the UK, Category C prisons are considered closed, meaning they have secure perimeters and are designed to prevent prisoners from escaping. However, they are not considered high-security like Category A or B prisons.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Prisoner charged with murder after inmate found dead in cell
A prisoner has been charged with murder after another inmate was found dead in his cell. West Mercia Police said a man in his 40s was discovered dead in his cell at around 7.40am on Tuesday at HMP Stoke Heath. Jonathan Alcide, 26, also an inmate at the category C men's prison near Market Drayton, Shropshire, has been charged in connection with the death and is currently in police custody. He is due to appear before Telford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. HMP Stoke Heath houses nearly 800 male prisoners. Most prisoners in England and Wales are housed in category C prisons. They are described as training and resettlement prisons, and are intended to provide prisoners with the opportunity to develop their skills so they can find work and resettle back into the community on release. In the 12 months leading up to March 2025, there were 399 deaths in prison custody in England and Wales. This represents a 37% increase on the 291 deaths in the previous 12 months. Read more from Sky News:
Sky News
03-07-2025
- Sky News
Prisoner charged with murder after inmate found dead in cell
A prisoner has been charged with murder after another inmate was found dead in his cell. West Mercia Police said a man in his 40s was discovered dead in his cell at around 7.40am on Tuesday at HMP Stoke Heath. Jonathan Alcide, 26, also an inmate at the category C men's prison near Market Drayton, Shropshire, has been charged in connection with the death and is currently in police custody. He is due to appear before Telford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. HMP Stoke Heath houses nearly 800 male prisoners. Most prisoners in England and Wales are housed in category C prisons. They are described as training and resettlement prisons, and are intended to provide prisoners with the opportunity to develop their skills so they can find work and resettle back into the community on release. In the 12 months leading up to March 2025, there were 399 deaths in prison custody in England and Wales. This represents a 37% increase on the 291 deaths in the previous 12 months.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
Murder charge after man found dead at HMP Stoke Heath
A prisoner in Shropshire has been charged with murder after an inmate was found dead in his Mercia Police said a man in his 40s was found dead at HMP Stoke Heath, near Market Drayton, at about 07:40 BST on force said Jonathan Alcide, 26, of HMP Stoke Heath, had been charged with murder and remained in police is due to appear at Telford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. HMP Stoke Heath is a men's Category C prison that houses nearly 800 inmates. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
