A prisoner scrawled the word "free" on his stomach with a biro moments before taking his own life after his plea to move to a lower security jail was refused.
An inquest which started on Monday, November 14 heard Ryan Jewell had "behaved well" during his four years at HMP Garth, near Leyland, and was well-regarded by staff and his fellow inmates. Governor Kerry McLaughlin described the 28-year-old as a "model prisoner" with a flair for woodwork.
The inquest, held in Preston, heard Jewell, born in London, had spent "most of his adult life" in prison but in the months leading up to his death on January 8 last year had voiced ambitions to lead "a normal, happy life". During an appointment with staff in August 2020 Jewell said: "I'm confident and motivated to do well in my life and never come back to prison again."
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Jewell had recently been downgraded to a category C prisoner and was on the highest level of privileges. He hoped to be further downgraded to category D which would have meant he could move to an open prison. But on December 8 2020 the parole board refused his request despite it being recommended by the Probation Service.
LancsLive reported Jewell was "very disappointed" at the decision and, as his release was subject to the parole board's approval given he was serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection, was said to be distraught at having to spend "another five years in prison".
Today assistant coroner Nicholas Rheinberg and the jurors will determine the inquest's conclusion heard from prison officers who found Jewell dead in his cell in the early hours of January 9 last year. Prison officer Daniel Chadwick, who was on night duty on D wing, was the first to realise something was wrong with Jewell.
Mr Chadwick said: "I saw his observation panel was covered, I tried to gain a response by knocking on the door and calling his name but I didn't get a response. I kicked the door to make a bit more noise but there was still no response."
Mr Chadwick radioed the control room requesting assistance and within a couple of minutes - a period which "felt like an age" - several other officers arrived. They opened the door and found Jewell "clearly dead".
Austin Smith, custodial manager on duty that night, said it was a scene he would "never forget".
The officers noted Jewell had used a pen to write "free" on his stomach. There was also an arrow pointing to a tattoo on the lower part of his abdomen which said "no regrets".
The inquest heard several changes had been implemented at Garth Prison following Jewell's death. These include officers wearing body cameras and having two nurses on duty at all times. Although Jewell had given away some of his personal possessions prior to taking his life, something considered a "red flag" for potential self-harm, this hadn't been observed by officers.
One of the jurors asked Governor McLaughlin if suicide in prison is "common". Governor McLaughlin said: "Sadly it's not unheard of but thankfully it's not common. I think in the last give years we've had two others apart from this."
During the first day of evidence the jury heard a statement from Mr Jewell's sister Sasha Richardson. She described her brother as "a kind and caring soul".
She said: "He would do anything for anyone and was highly thought of by other inmates and staff. He was hard-working and he enjoyed his job in the prison and he spent time socialising in the gym and in the library. Our family is heartbroken, my mum especially. A part of her has died with her son. There is a part missing that can never be replaced."
The inquest continues.
Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
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