Latest news with #PrisonsandProbationOmbudsman
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Wales Online
Investigation launched after man dies at Welsh prison
Investigation launched after man dies at Welsh prison It is the fourth death at the prison this year being examined HMP Berwyn is one of the biggest jails in Europe (Image:) An investigation has been launched after the death of a man at a Welsh prison. Prisoner Darren Watts, who was 51, died last month at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has confirmed it is examining the circumstances surrounding his death, which happened on Sunday, July 13. It is the fourth inquiry launched by the PPO in 2025 following the death of a prisoner at HMP Berwyn. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . A spokesperson for the PPO said: "We can only investigate issues that may be related to someone's death. This could include how their physical or mental health, suicide, self-harm and substance misuse risks have been managed." Darren Watts was born on November 3, 1973. As an inmate at a category C prison that can accommodate up to 2,100 men, the PPO will assess his post-mortem report and speak to prison staff before reaching its conclusions. The investigation will also consider clinical reviews, records of interviews and other relevant documents. Article continues below A PPO report will be sent to the bereaved family before a final version is issued. A coroner will then conduct an inquest to establish how he died. A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Darren Watts. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate." Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Two women prisoners die just days apart at notorious jail where evil Lucy Letby & Constance Marten are locked up
Surrey Police are treating the deaths as unexplained LAGS DEAD Two women prisoners die just days apart at notorious jail where evil Lucy Letby & Constance Marten are locked up Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO women prisoners have died at the same jail where baby killer Lucy Letby and Constance Marten are locked up. The first woman died at notorious HMP Bronzefield on July 28 and the second just days later on July 31. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Beinash Batool, 30, is housed in HMP Bronzefield Credit: AP 3 Killer nurse Lucy Letby is serving 15 life sentences in the notorious prison Credit: PA It has sparked outrage among fellow inmates at the prison that houses some of the UK's worst female offenders. Baby killing nurse Lucy Letby as well as Constance Marten and Beinash Batool are all housed in the prison. Sodexo, the private company which runs the prison and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman are investigating both deaths. Surrey Police are also probing the deaths of the two women at the biggest women's prison in Europe. Confirming the deaths a spokesperson for Sodexo said: "The next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with the family. "All deaths in custody are investigated by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, and therefore we are unable to comment further at this stage." A Surrey Police spokeswoman told the Mirror: "We were called to HMP Bronzefield in Ashford around 4.30pm on July 28, following a report of the discovery of the body of a prisoner. "The death is being treated as unexplained, and an investigation is underway. "It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement at this time." Healthcare services at the lockup are commissioned by NHS England. An NHS England spokesperson said: "We are deeply concerned by reports of two deaths at HMP Bronzefield in recent days. "While we are unable to comment on individual cases, NHS England is working with the healthcare provider and HMPPS to fully understand the circumstances and will ensure all appropriate action is taken." Among the 550 women serving time at Bronzefield are Beinash Batool and Lucy Letby who have caused a stir among fellow lags after becoming close friends. Killer nurse Letby has reportedly become best mates with Batool, who tortured her step daughter Sara Sharif to death. The pair have riled up fellow prisoners with their friendship after they were spotted playing the children's card game UNO together in the lock up. Posh prisoner Constance Marten is also locked up at HMP Bronzefield after she was found guilty over the death of her baby daughter.
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Man dies within week of arriving at tough UK prison
The 37-year-old died in his cell six days after arriving in the jail. A man died in his jail cell while he was on remand for assault. Dean Leach, 37, passed away at HMP Forest Bank from peritonitis - inflammation of the inner abdominal wall - caused by a perforated duodenal ulcer, a report has found. Mr Leach had been charged with assault and remanded to the Salford prison on December 29, 2022. No pre-existing physical medical conditions were listed in his medical records and his observation levels were all within normal ranges. The Fatal Incident Report stated that on December 31, two days after being remanded, he reported to staff he was vomiting and not eating. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman reports found he became aggressive during a medical assessment and threatened to stop eating, reports the Manchester Evening News. Nursing staff advised that Mr Leach needed to stay hydrated and created a food refusal care plan to manage the risks, which involved him having regular GP appointments. On January 1 2023, after discussion with officers on Mr Leach's wing, a nurse established that he had been eating biscuits and drinking tea with other prisoners in the jail. The report says: "She considered that Mr Leach was just angry in the moment when he threatened to refuse food, so chose not to continue with the food refusal care plan. The nurse advised officers to contact the healthcare emergency responder or use the healthcare triage system if they had any concerns." However, on January 3 2023, officers called for assistance when they saw Mr Leach "rolling around the floor of his cell in pain and holding his stomach". Mr Leach told a nurse he was supposed to be on omeprazole (a medication taken for gastritis, inflammation of the lining of the stomach) but that he had not taken it for some time due to having been 'on the run' while resisting police arrest in the community. Mr Leach explained that the pain worsened if he ate, so he had not eaten for a few days. The nurse assessed Mr Leach and found that he was breathing quickly and also had a fast pulse. Nursing staff took Mr Leach to see the GP. Mr Leach told the doctor he had a history of stomach ulcers for which he had taken medication in the past. The GP completed a thorough assessment for serious illness and found that Mr Leach's observations were all within normal ranges, although he had already lost 3kg of weight since his arrival at Forest Bank. The report says a care plan was created to manage the symptoms and Mr Leach's medication was re-prescribed. Later in the afternoon, Mr Leach was checked again by nursing staff. He said he had ongoing abdominal pain, but it was less severe. At 6.05pm, a nurse attended Mr Leach's cell to check on him and noted that he remained fully alert and orientated, lying on his bed. Mr Leach reported ongoing abdominal pain but said it was less severe. He told her he had not vomited again. The nurse recorded that Mr Leach had eaten a bowl of cereal and a warm drink, and administered his medication and completed a set of checks on the severity of illness and risk of deterioration, which indicated a low risk. Shortly before 10pm, an operational support grade (OSG) completed a routine check of prisoners on Mr Leach's wing. He had a brief conversation with Mr Leach and did not raise any concerns. But at 4.45am on January 4, a nurse contacted Mr Leach's wing to request a member of staff check on him. An officer arrived at his cell 13 minutes later and found him semi-naked on his cell floor and unresponsive. A call was made for an ambulance but healthcare staff and other officers who responded quickly found rigor mortis was present so made the decision not to commence resuscitation. Paramedics pronounced Mr Leach's death at 5.32am. The report says Mr Leach's father "shared that (his son) had seen a nurse and a doctor (in the community) and had a history of stomach problems which he was on medication for. He said that for his son to complain, it must have been really bad, and told us that he was supposed to be watched closely by prison staff because of mental health issues.." In conclusion, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Adrian Usher, says in his report: "The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Leach received at Forest Bank was equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community. He highlights areas of good practice and makes no recommendations. "We found that the non-clinical care provided to Mr Leach was also of a good standard. Staff addressed Mr Leach's needs and responded swiftly and with compassion when they found him unresponsive. The outcome was unexpected and shocking for everyone involved." The inquest into Mr Leach's death concluded on May 23 2025, returning a verdict of natural causes. Mr Leach was the thirteenth prisoner to die at Forest Bank since January 2020. Of the previous deaths, seven were from natural causes, two were self-inflicted and three were drug related. The report says: "There are no similarities between our findings in the investigation into Mr Leach's death and our investigation findings for the previous deaths."
The Irish Sun
07-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Shock death of newborn ‘Baby C' at women's prison being probed
PRISON bosses are investigating the tragic death of a newborn baby inside a jail. The child was just one day old when they died at Advertisement An inquest into 'Baby C' is set to be held to establish how it died at the prison, which also has a Young Offenders' Institution. The tot's gender and mother's condition has not been disclosed following the death behind bars on October 16, 2023. It was confirmed by the Prison and Probations Ombudsman after featuring in its latest Independent Investigations Annual Report. Ombudsman Adrian Usher said: 'We are saddened to confirm that the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman are investigating the death of a baby. Advertisement Read More on PRISONS 'We offer our sincerest condolences to the family.' The newborn was among 292 deaths inside prisons in 2023/24, according to the report. A final investigation report will be published by the PPO after the inquest has finished. Three babies have now died in the English prison system in the last five years following deaths at Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Breaking Exclusive Aisha Cleary died in her mum Rianna's cell at Rianna, 18, endured more than 12 hours of labour and had repeatedly pressed her 'cell bell' before anyone came to help. Chilling moment prisoners smirk before battering sex offender to death in cell in 37-sec attack - then calmly walk away Officers found her covered in blood with her dead infant after biting through the umbilical cord as she had no other way of severing it. Louise Powell, 31, begged for an ambulance at Advertisement She didn't know she was pregnant before going into labour in June 2020. A PPO report found the duty nurse made 'a serious error of judgement' by not visiting Powell after they were contacted three times about her severe pain. 1 The child was just one day old when they died at HMP Foston Hall in Derbyshire Credit: Alamy
ITV News
19-05-2025
- ITV News
Nigel Malt: Dad who ran over daughter in drunken rage in west Norfolk dies in prison
A father who murdered his own daughter by drunkenly running her over in his car has died in prison. Nigel Malt was "consumed with anger" over a family break-up when he reversed into 19-year-old Lauren Malt in West Winch in Norfolk on 23 January 2022. After reversing into her he then drove over her body a second time, claiming in court that he thought she was a wheelie bin. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman said on its website that an investigation was taking place following Malt's death at the age of 47 on 29 April at HMP Gartree in Leicestershire. No cause of death has yet been confirmed. After being found guilty of murder, Malt was jailed for life with a minimum of 18 years at Norwich Crown Court, though the sentence was then extended to a minimum of 22 years after being referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The trial had heard that Malt had been arguing with his daughter and threatened her boyfriend with a crowbar. "Having knocked her to the ground he then reversed his car over her," prosecutor Andrew Jackson said. "He stopped, then he drove the car forward again over her body. These actions killed Lauren Malt, and later examination of her body revealed bruising, lacerations and crushing injuries to her head, torso, arms and legs." After hitting his daughter in his car, Malt put her body in the passenger side of his Mercedes and drove to the shop where the girl's mother, his estranged wife Karen Malt, worked. Ms Malt was then taken to a hospital in King's Lynn where she was pronounced dead. His lawyer said Malt had been drinking and that what happened had been an accident. The trial was told that Malt had been estranged from his wife and children and was living separately at a different address at the time.
