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Wales Online
11-08-2025
- Wales Online
Man died days after being locked up as jail staff made massive error
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. Article continues below For confidential support the Samaritans can be contacted for free around the clock 365 days a year on 116 123.
Wales Online
08-08-2025
- Wales Online
£600k ‘slavery' drugs plant found inside old tyre service warehouse
£600k 'slavery' drugs plant found inside old tyre service warehouse One of the men caught at the criminal enterprise admitted to police that what had happened at the plant could effectively be slavery Officers had an idea of what they might find in the disused warehouse but even they were stunned at the street value of the cannabis discovered in the building (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police) Two men were caught helping to operate a 'slavery' cannabis plant worth over half a million pounds in Carmarthenshire. Undercover officers from Dyfed-Powys Police caught Orgest Bobo, 26, and Edison Kuka, 30, helping to operate the plant at the old Carmarthenshire Tyre Services in Johnstown in March after they grew suspicious of vehicles dropping large deliveries off at the industrial site which was at that point thought to be disused. After a vehicle which had just arrived to drop off a delivery at the Alltycnap Road site was stopped by police officers towards Pont Abraham services officers quizzed driver Atnant Kuka and passenger Edison Kuka before both were arrested on suspicion of production of a controlled class B drug, namely cannabis. Later that day Bobo was also arrested on suspicion of the same charge. Officers then carried out a warrant at the disused tyre centre on the same day where they discovered almost 600 plants with a value of just short of £600,000. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here One of the defendants admitted it could be argued what was happening at the site amounted to slavery (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police) When officers asked Edison Kuka what his view was on whether what had happened to him was slavery he responded: 'Maybe slavery, maybe work.' The crown did not collect enough evidence to prosecute Atnant Kuka but Edison Kuka and Bobo were sentenced on Friday at Swansea Crown Court. The defendants are Albanian nationals who arrived in the UK illegally on small boats earlier this year, Hannah Ealden, prosecuting, told the court. The court heard how the defendants were likely to be performing gardening or cultivation roles lower down a chain. Neither of the defendants had any previous convictions. Caitlin Brazel, for Edison Kuka, of Haselbury Road, Edmonton, said her client had shown himself to be deeply remorseful and asked her to apologise to the judge and the court on his behalf. Ms Brazel said Kuka's offending started from a 'place of desperation'. The huge operation was sophisticated with water tanks and prime insulation for cannabis growth (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police) She emphasised her client had no previous convictions and had been 'devastated to lose his clean character'. She said he had been a painter and a mentor while in custody at HMP Swansea where he had been undertaking English classes. Matthew Murphy, for Bobo, who is homeless, said his client had incurred a significant amount of debt which he was trying to pay off when he ended up in the warehouse in Carmarthen. Article continues below Mr Murphy said while it was likely Bobo had some understanding of the scale of the operation it was 'clear he played a lesser role'. He said he wished to return to Albania to be with his wife as soon as possible. Judge Recorder Simon Stephenson sentenced both defendants to two years immediate imprisonment, telling them he couldn't ignore the scale of the operation and the fact the drugs had an 'extremely high' street value. They'll serve at least half of those terms behind bars.
Wales Online
11-07-2025
- Wales Online
Man dies days after being released from jail homeless
Man dies days after being released from jail homeless Mark Johnston - known locally as 'the Hoover Thief' - should have received more support before his release from jail, the prisons ombudsman has found Mark Johnston (Image: South Wales Police ) A man died of a drug overdose five days after being released from a Welsh prison with nowhere to live. According to an ombudsman report, "workload pressures" experienced by prison staff led to Mark Johnston leaving HMP Swansea with no accommodation lined up. Mr Johnston, 49, was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison in December 2023 after being convicted of theft. The jail was aware he had attempted suicide in the past and had struggled with addiction to alcohol, heroin and crack cocaine. Shortly before his release in April 2024, he tested negative for drugs. Prisons ombudsman Adrian Usher said: "The prison's resettlement team saw Mr Johnston and completed housing referrals for him just five days before his release. As a result, there was limited time for Mr Johnston to secure accommodation and he was released homeless." For the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here. A prison resettlement officer said "workload pressures" had delayed the resettlement team seeing Mr Johnston. In its scathing report the ombudsman also noted there was confusion over who was responsible for making a housing referral. Mr Usher added that when the prisoner was released he "was not given a naloxone kit as had been agreed". Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. Article continues below "There is no record to explain why Mr Johnston was not given naloxone when he was released," said the ombudsman. On April 5 Mr Johnston and a friend visited an acquaintance's home where they drank alcohol and took drugs. Two days later he was found dead on the sofa. A post-mortem found Mr Johnston died of toxicity from drugs including bromazolam, a benzodiazapine. An inquest concluded the death was drug-related. The latest figures show a third of prisoners leaving HMP Swansea were released homeless or to transient accommodation, said Mr Usher. He added: "The governor of HMP Swansea should ensure that a process is created to identify newly arrived prisoners who are at risk of homelessness and that the resettlement team sees them at the earliest opportunity to maximise their chance of finding post-release accommodation." The ombudsman also said all probation workers should be aware of the 'duty to refer' policy framework and their responsibility to complete housing referrals. Article continues below Mr Johnston, from Brynmelin, was a serial shoplifter known locally as "the Hoover Thief" because of his history of stealing vacuum cleaners in Swansea. In 2021 we reported on a crime spree, including eight shop thefts and an assault on a police officer, which saw Mr Johnston jailed for 14 months.
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I used to work in a prison, now I'm playing at the Women's Euros'
Rachel Rowe used to fall asleep in her football kit after driving 300 miles after a long day working in a prison to follow her dream of playing football professionally Women's Euros wildcard Wales have produced another surprise after qualifying for their first major tournament - as it emerged that one of their players used to work in a prison. In a remarkable move from an apprentice business administrator at HMP Swansea, Rachel Rowe, will now be part of the team making their historic debut at the tournament. Speaking about her journey, the 32-year-old said: "I had multiple jobs. I came out of college and had to work. I worked in B&M, then went to the prison service. "There are different generations in our group who have had different experiences. There are those who go to college and become full-time footballers from that. "My journey was completely different, but it's moulded me into the person I am today." Rowe was working for the Welsh government at the 16-year-old nick in Swansea Bay when she had the chance to go semi-pro with Reading. Three times a week, she would drive the 300-mile round trip from Swansea to Berkshire after a full day's work. Crashing into bed after midnight, the dedicated player told how she'd wake up still in her football kit ready to do it all over again. "I did it for a year and I was exhausted," she says. "Fortunately, we won the league which meant we went up to the WSL." Before her full-time deal came, Rowe considered giving up on her footballing ambitions. But the professional contract was life-changing, even if the salary was nothing compared to top-flight men's players. She said: "It's been 10 years since [turning fully professional] which really seems strange. "It's been a decade and now this happens and we're at the Euros. "When we arrived here and saw the bus with all the Euros logos on it, it hit home. "It was a case of gulp it down and don't get too teary because it really did feel real." When they play their first match against the Netherlands on Saturday, Rowe admits it will be hard not to cry. "I think every game is going to be like that because it's such a precious moment for us all to be part of," she says. "But that doesn't mean we're not going to be composed. "It hasn't been easy getting to this position. You stand on the shoulders of many people who put in a lot of effort for two or three decades to get us to this position – and we bring them with us. "We're building towards Saturday, keeping this nerves at bay. We'd be doing ourselves an injustice if we come here, feel all of the pressure and not enjoy being here."
Powys County Times
13-05-2025
- Powys County Times
Powys man jailed just 12 days after suspended sentence
A LLANDRINDOD Wells man has been jailed after police were called to a relative's house following a domestic disturbance, in which he had been smashing plates over his own head. Michael Martin, 31, was jailed at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday, May 12, after he told police he had knuckledusters in the house. The incident came just 12 days after Martin had received a suspended jail sentence for threatening family members while brandishing an axe and a baseball bat, posting videos of this on Facebook stories. Martin, of Glan Yr Ithon, Llandrindod, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an offensive weapon on March 31. He admitted the offence put him in breach of a suspended sentence he received at Merthyr Crown Court on March 17; this was for two counts of sending communication threatening death or serious harm. Alexandra Wilson, prosecuting, said Martin had been on remand at HMP Swansea since his arrest for the latest incident, which occurred on March 29. 'He entered a guilty plea to possessing an offensive weapon; this was committed during the suspended sentence order, and the case was committed to the crown court,' she said. 'At around 8.30pm officers were called to an address in Llandrindod, regarding a domestic incident. 'The defendant was in the hallway, he had cuts on his face and head. There had been a verbal argument with a relative, and he had been smashing plates over his own head. 'They believed he was under the influence, due to his slurred speech and he smelt of intoxicants. 'He was arrested on criminal damage, then he told police there were knuckledusters located on shelves in the living room. He told officers it was his.' Ms Wilson said Martin told police he had owned the knuckledusters for a number of years, having bought them online. He was unsure if they were illegal. Elin Morgan, representing Martin, said her client 'fully appreciates the gravity of the situation'. 'I'd invite your honour to stray away from activation (of the suspended sentence),' she said. 'He was arrested 12 days after the suspended sentence order. He stated he had had the knuckledusters for some time. He was hesitant as to how to get rid of it without getting in trouble. 'He has attended two sessions with probation after the order, he has complied in the little time he was at liberty. There hasn't been sufficient time to see any effects of the order.' She said Martin was 'entrenched' in problems with alcohol and has been taking medication in prison to abstain from alcohol. Regarding the incident, she said: 'He was not threatening family members; when police arrived he told them he was smashing plates over his head as punishment for falling out with a relative. 'This is a very serious hiccup, but I would ask you to continue to allow him to improve himself in the community.' Judge Richard Kember said the offence had passed the custody threshold and jailed Martin for 12 weeks. He activated the previous suspended sentence, one of 12 months, and the additional 12 weeks is to be served consecutively to this – making a total sentence of 15 months in jail.
