Danger driver who killed young brothers died in prison from drug misuse
A banned driver found dead in his prison cell after being jailed for the deaths of two children died accidentally from drug misuse, an inquest found.
Now the senior coroner for South Staffordshire has written to prison officials after concerns were raised by evidence given at the hearing relating to the availability of medical records to staff.
Robert Brown, 53, was found dead in his cell at HMP Dovegate, near Uttoxeter, on December 25, 2018.
He had been jailed for 10 years for causing the death by dangerous driving of Corey and Casper Platt-May, aged six and two, in Coventry, in February, 2018.
At Brown's inquest last month a jury returned a conclusion of accidental death. The cause of death was given as aspiration of gastric contents and synthetic cannabinoid receptor antagonists.
In his report to the National Offender Management Service coroner Mr Andrew Haigh stated: "During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed a matter giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken - the matter of concern is as follows.
"Although there was no finding by the jury that this was causative in respect of the death, at times during the inquest it appeared that information on the central NOMIS records, information in the medical system records and information available to the security department at the prison was not available to all staff at the prison who may have benefitted from having it.
"I did hear helpful evidence from the Head of Safer Custody that nationally efforts are being made to develop a system whereby significant relevant information about a prisoner is available to staff."
Admitted
The service has until the end of the month to respond to the coroner who has also sent the report to Dovegate and to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
Brown had admitted causing the deaths of the brothers by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, having no licence and no insurance.
The children were with their mother Louise on the way to a park when they were struck by Brown's Ford Focus as they crossed the road.
His companion in the car, Gwendoline Harrison, 42, was jailed for six months for assault with intent to resist arrest.
They were caught near the scene after Cradley Heath man Adrian Henefer stopped them from fleeing in the car.
Mr Henefer was fixing a bus stop when he witnessed the crash.
He immediately ran over and wrestled the keys from Brown, of Warwickshire, then tracked the pair on foot to an alleyway where police apprehended them.
Last year Mr Henefer was presented with a Police Public Bravery Award and the West Midlands Police Chief Constable’s Good Citizen Award for his actions.
In May 2018, the children's father, Reece Platt-May, was found dead in Corfu.
Brown was initially jailed for nine years but this was increased to 10-and-a-half years.
