Inquest into Leeds Prison death

The inquest into the death of Michael Clegg who died at Leeds Prison in May 2006 will begin at Leeds Coroner’s Court today, 18th January 2010, and is expected to last for seven weeks.

Michael was found hanging in his cell in the late evening on 9th May 2006. He had only been at the prison for 12 days before his death.

He had been granted conditional bail on two occasions but he was remanded in custody because no suitable probation hostel places could be found. A further bail hearing was due to take place on the day that he was found hanging.

 
This was Michael’s first time in prison and he was placed on the vulnerable prisoner’s wing within Leeds prison.
 
A few days after his arrival Michael was moved into a cell with another prisoner called Neil Preece-Smith who was serving a life sentence. Mr Preece-Smith had been convicted in March 2006 of arson with intent to endanger life after he had set fire to Ashdene probation hostel in Wakefield on 1st January 2006, a hostel where he had been staying following his release from prison on licence.

 
Before prisoners are placed in shared cells it is the prison’s responsibility to consider the “Cell Sharing Risk Assessment” for each prisoner to try to ensure that the cell sharing arrangements are suitable for both prisoners.

 
Following Michael’s death West Yorkshire Police undertook a lengthy investigation into his death.

 
Neil Preece- Smith was charged with aiding and abetting suicide and pleaded guilty receiving a ten year sentence in February 2007.

 
In passing sentence the Judge commented that he regarded Neil Preece-Smith as “an extremely dangerous man” who embarked over a period of time in bullying Michael Clegg.

 
Philippa Matthews a civil liberties expert from Howells LLP in Sheffield, who is representing Michael Clegg’s daughter at the inquest, said the family were hoping that the inquest would look at the following issues:

 
1. that no bail hostel place could be found for Michael which led to him being remanded in custody.
 
2. the prison’s assessment of the risk posed by Neil Preece Smith to Michael and to other inmates and what information they considered in deciding this.
 
3. whether Michael was seen by any medical staff whilst at the prison.
 
4. what changes have been made to the systems in place at Leeds prison since Michael’s death.

In a previous case in 2004 Shahid Aziz was murdered by his cell mate at Leeds prison. Both the Prison Probation Ombudsman and the Coroner raised concerns about the prison’s Cell Sharing Risk Assessment procedures. Michael Clegg’s family are concerned lessons may not have been learned.

 
Philippa Matthews commented that:

 
“The state has an obligation to protect life and also a duty to properly investigate any prison death. To do that, an effective official investigation is required by Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.  These investigations must be thorough, independent and public, and establish if the death could have been prevented.  The investigation must see if lessons can be learned to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent such tragedies occurring in the future.

 
"Michael’s family are hoping that the inquest will provide them with reassurance that systems are in place at Leeds prison to prevent vulnerable prisoners from being placed in double cells with others who could cause them harm”.

For further information, please contact Kath Harding at Freshwater on 0114 201 8011, or 07710 490943. 

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