'Bullied' father hanged himself in Featherstone Prison, inquest told

Prison authorities failed to properly investigate Karl Bough's misuse of drugs and his complaints of bullying in the lead-up to his death, it was said.

The 27-year-old, from Walsall, who was serving a five-year sentence for armed robbery, denied smoking in the toilets and smashed up his cell when he returned to it.

He was moved to another, South Staffordshire Coroners Court heard, and the next morning, last November 5, he was found hanged with torn bedsheets.

A search of his cell uncovered a 'farewell note' which read: "It's like I'm two different people. My mind is split into a good side but I can't control the other side.

"It's dangerous so I'm going to stop it before I do something I regret."

A jury at Stafford Crown Court this week returned a verdict of suicide, making reference to his low mood at the time.

In the verdict, the eight-woman/three-man panel also agreed with the Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) investigation's findings which criticised Featherstone for not adequately probing Mr Bough's drug misuse or his complaints of bullying and assault.

However they agreed with the PPO's conclusion that 'his death could not have been anticipated'.

Earlier, Staffordshire South senior coroner Andrew Haigh and the jury heard from witnesses who described the hours leading up to Mr Bough's death.

Anthony Taylor, who is a kitchen supervisor at the prison, said: "He was a pleasant lad but had been disciplined in the past for stealing chicken and flour from the kitchen.

"On November 4 he appeared to be in a good mood when he asked to go the toilet where I noticed smoke coming from a cubicle that he was sharing with another cell mate.

"He denied he was smoking but I told him I'd have to report him and he got very angry throwing a mug against the wall.

"Ten officers were called to escort him back to the wing."

Prison officer Anthony Roberts said he was called to help move Mr Bough to another cell after he had 'wrecked' his own following the smoking incident.

"Later that afternoon I gave him his meal and then shoved a copy of the disciplinary report under his cell to which he just said 'thanks boss'," he said. "He was calm and polite throughout." Retired senior officer Gareth Shearsby said Mr Bough came to see him on October 16, 2014, inviting a search of his cell for contraband.

He said: "He wanted to get rid of stuff he was holding and said he was feeling the pressure of other prisoners who were making him store things in his cell for them.

"He talked about being bullied and depressed but declined any intervention so I referred him to the mental health nurse."

Prison mental health nurse Jonathan Deakin told the jury Mr Bough did not appear to suffer from any psychiatric conditions and had only ever been prescribed painkillers.

He said small amounts of the painkiller Gavopentin later discovered in Mr Bough's bloodstream had probably been 'traded for something with another prisoner'.

Mr Deakin said he'd met Mr Bough for 10 minutes on October 31 – 10 days after he'd been referred by Mr Shearsby.

"He wasn't being evasive or elusive and came across a pleasant young man," he said. "I had no concerns otherwise I would have documented them."

After the hearing, Mr Bough's mother Julie Shepherd, 54, criticised authorities over his death saying her son had wanted to be segregated in prison.

A Prison Service spokesperson said:"Our sympathies are with the family of Karl Bough. Every death in custody is a tragedy and we make every effort to learn from each one.

"The inquest concluded that Mr Bough's death could not have been anticipated. We will carefully consider the findings of the inquest and have already taken action to address the recommendations from the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman's report into his death."