What was the verdict in the inquest of Matthew Osborne at HMP Lowdham Grange?

The jury returned a conclusion of suicide and found Matthew Osborne should not have been held in the prison's segregation unit, deeming his detention after November 16, 2023, unlawful.

What actions were taken against prison officers following Matthew Osborne's death?

Two prison officers were dismissed for gross misconduct after playing football with a toilet roll on the day of his death, and another officer resigned.

What systemic failures were identified in the inquest concerning HMP Lowdham Grange?

Failures included inadequate risk assessments for segregation, poor care planning, insufficient staffing, lack of management oversight, and improper ACCT checks, with repeated past failings also noted.

Home / Crime and Justice / Coroner Slams Police After Inmate's Tragic Suicide

Coroner Slams Police After Inmate's Tragic Suicide

5 Feb

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Summary

Inmate found hanging in cell; suicide verdict returned.
Two officers fired, one resigned over toilet roll football game.
Coroner criticizes police for failures in inmate's death.

Coroner Slams Police After Inmate's Tragic Suicide

Matthew Osborne, aged 39, was found hanging in his cell at HMP Lowdham Grange on November 25, 2023. An inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court returned a verdict of suicide, with the jury finding Osborne should not have been placed in the prison's segregation unit. The jury also cited that his detention after November 16, 2023, was unlawful due to insufficient risk assessment and a lack of measures to mitigate risks in segregation.

Concerns were raised about the algorithm used for segregation suitability and a care plan template that created a false impression of personalized care. Numerous reviews for segregation suitability were not properly conducted, and information was not shared between prison and healthcare staff. Understaffing was identified as a significant issue across both teams.

The inquest heard that on the afternoon of Osborne's death, two prison officers were filmed playing football with a toilet roll in the segregation unit. These officers, Asa Whibberley and Stefan Wilson, were subsequently dismissed for gross misconduct. Another officer, Josh Clark, resigned before disciplinary action.