Coroner Accuses Prison of Neglect and Calls for Urgent Action

Coroner Accuses Prison of Neglect

A coroner has accused HMP Lowdham Grange of "failing to act with candour" after three self-inflicted deaths in just 19 days, including that of former Dreamboys leader Anthony Binfield. The jury found multiple failings contributed to the deaths.

Coroner Laurinda Bower criticized the prison and Ministry of Justice for a lack of transparency and fined the MoJ £500 for withholding evidence. She warned that "prisoners will continue to die in custody" unless there is a "radical change in culture."

The inquest revealed a series of failings in the cases of Binfield, Karbauskas, and Richards. Binfield's request for mental health support was ignored, checks were not completed, and he was found unresponsive after 11 minutes. Richards, a vulnerable prisoner, was not given his medication. Karbauskas, who spoke no English and was depressed, was left isolated.

The coroner concluded that Binfield and Karbauskas died by suicide, while Richards' death was an accident. She attributed the deaths to "multiple failings and missed opportunities," including staffing issues, inadequate training, and a failure to share information.

The prison is now under the direct control of the Ministry of Justice, which has implemented measures to improve safety and security. Sodexo, the previous operator, expressed regret and acknowledged the challenges they faced. The Ministry of Justice offered apologies and outlined steps taken to address the issues.