FAILINGS and a lack of training at Durham prison possibly contributed to the suicide of a prisoner, an inquest found today.

Garry Beadle, 36, was found hanging in his cell at Durham prison and died in hospital four days later on February 11 2019.

He was in custody on remand and had only been at the prison for six days. 

The jury concluded that issues in record-keeping and information-sharing at HMP Durham possibly contributed to his death.

He arrived at HMP Durham on February 1 2019, with a suicide and self harm (SASH) warning form.

It recorded that he had attempted to hang himself and had taken an overdose in the previous two weeks.

He had told a magistrate and his solicitor that he would not last two days in prison, the inquest heard.

The SASH form also recorded his repeated statements of mental ill-health.

On arrival at HMP Durham he told a senior prison officer that he felt so down he would attempt to take his life again, and that he missed his children “like crazy.”

The inquest was told that the officer did not fully record the information.

Mr Beadle was subsequently seen by a nurse who, despite the information on the SASH form, recorded that Mr Beadle had not overdosed in the last 12 months.

The jury heard that the nurse had not received training on prison suicide and self-harm management for five or six years, and had no training in SASH forms.

The inquest jury concluded that inconsistent training across the prison service also possibly contributed to Mr Beadle’s death.

Jasmine Leng, senior caseworker at Inquest, an organisation which investigates state-related deaths, said: “All the warning signs were there, but Garry was fundamentally failed by those who owed him a duty of care. 

“Durham prison has seen the highest number of self-inflicted deaths over the past ten years. 

“Yet not enough was done to address the serious issues identified by the inspectorate, ombudsman and at previous inquests. Garry died as a result of this failure."

Paying tribute, Mr Beadle's mother Karen said: “After all the evidence from the inquest has come to light, it is crystal clear that Garry was overwhelmed, confused, emotional and that more attention should have been paid to the red flags he was waving for help and support. 

“We now know that fundamental errors were made in Garry's short time at HMP Durham.”