This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/17/prisoner-found-dead-in-cell-days-after-giving-birth-inquest-told-michelle-barnes
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Prisoner found dead in cell days after giving birth, inquest told | Prisoner found dead in cell days after giving birth, inquest told |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A prisoner was found dead in her cell with a ligature around her neck days after she gave birth, an inquest has heard. | A prisoner was found dead in her cell with a ligature around her neck days after she gave birth, an inquest has heard. |
| Michelle Barnes, 33, from Cumbria, was serving a two-year sentence at Low Newton prison in Durham for drug offences when she was found dead in December. | Michelle Barnes, 33, from Cumbria, was serving a two-year sentence at Low Newton prison in Durham for drug offences when she was found dead in December. |
| Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle told the jury at Crook Civic Centre that Barnes had a history of mental health problems and self-harm, and that she found out she was pregnant when she was in prison. She had been jailed in June last year. | Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle told the jury at Crook Civic Centre that Barnes had a history of mental health problems and self-harm, and that she found out she was pregnant when she was in prison. She had been jailed in June last year. |
| Tweddle said Cumbria county council was involved in the inquest because care proceedings were under way. | Tweddle said Cumbria county council was involved in the inquest because care proceedings were under way. |
| The coroner said: “The council had concerns about Michelle as a mum.” He added: “It would appear she was found with a ligature around her neck in her cell.” | The coroner said: “The council had concerns about Michelle as a mum.” He added: “It would appear she was found with a ligature around her neck in her cell.” |
| The most senior governor at the prison, Alan Richer, said Low Newton had no mother and baby unit. The jail had room for 350 prisoners and there were 274 inmates at the time of her death, so it was not overcrowded in December, he said. | The most senior governor at the prison, Alan Richer, said Low Newton had no mother and baby unit. The jail had room for 350 prisoners and there were 274 inmates at the time of her death, so it was not overcrowded in December, he said. |
| Barnes was living in a psychologically informed planned environment (Pipe) unit – a discrete area of the prison for 40 inmates aimed at helping them overcome issues with the help of specially trained staff. | Barnes was living in a psychologically informed planned environment (Pipe) unit – a discrete area of the prison for 40 inmates aimed at helping them overcome issues with the help of specially trained staff. |
| Richer said 85% of women who came into Low Newton had misused drugs and their offending was related to drug and alcohol abuse. Between one-third and a quarter of women prisoners self-harm, he said. His prison experiences 20 to 35 self-harm incidents a month – about 330 a year. | Richer said 85% of women who came into Low Newton had misused drugs and their offending was related to drug and alcohol abuse. Between one-third and a quarter of women prisoners self-harm, he said. His prison experiences 20 to 35 self-harm incidents a month – about 330 a year. |
| Richer said self-harming appeared to be a “coping mechanism” for some of the women prisoners. | Richer said self-harming appeared to be a “coping mechanism” for some of the women prisoners. |
| He said there were about 200 babies born to inmates every year in the UK. There are only five prisons with mother and baby units, he said, after one unit closed due to flooding. | He said there were about 200 babies born to inmates every year in the UK. There are only five prisons with mother and baby units, he said, after one unit closed due to flooding. |
| Most Low Newton inmates who give birth are involved in care proceedings, he said. | Most Low Newton inmates who give birth are involved in care proceedings, he said. |
| The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |
| In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here |