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Prisoner's Death Linked to Synthetic Drug Use
13 May
Summary
- Prisoner Stephen Metcalfe died from synthetic cannabinoid use.
- He was found unresponsive in his cell at HMP Lowdham Grange.
- Drug paraphernalia was discovered in his cell following his death.
Stephen Metcalfe, 47, who was serving a sentence for manslaughter, died in his cell at HMP Lowdham Grange on December 30, 2024. An inquest determined that his death was caused by the use of synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as Spice, with a secondary cause of coronary artery atheroma.
Metcalfe was found unresponsive in his cell at 14:23 GMT. Prison and healthcare staff administered CPR, which initially restored circulation. He was transported to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he was later pronounced deceased.
During the investigation, drug paraphernalia, including modified vapes for inhaling Spice, was discovered among his belongings. This incident underscores concerns about drug use within the prison, as a separate inquest in April had previously identified drug use as a significant problem at the facility. The coroner concluded Metcalfe's death was a misadventure resulting from obtaining and consuming synthetic cannabinoids within HMP Lowdham Grange.
