Prisoner’s family learn of his death from other inmates using illicit mobile phone

Rocky Stenning took own life in Chelmsford jail after staff 'failed to identify risk factors for suicide and self-harm'

In a report published this week, the ombudsman said Mr Stenning's family were told of his death 'by fellow prisoners, who had contacted them using illicit mobile phones' (Facebook)

A prisoner’s family were told of his death in jail by other inmates using illicit mobile phones, an official report has revealed.

Rocky Stenning, 26, was found hanging in his cell at Chelmsford Prison on 19 July last year, nine days after his arrival.

A jury inquest found last week that a failure to assess his risk of self-harm and suicide contributed to his death.

A separate report published this week by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman revealed Stenning’s family were told of his death “by fellow prisoners, who had contacted them using illicit mobile phones”.

“This was very distressing for his family and we consider that the prison needs to do more to prevent prisoners gaining access to mobile phones,” the ombudsman said.

The report recommended that the jail’s governor “should review the local security strategy and ensure that everything possible is being done to prevent mobile phones entering the prison”.

The ombudsman also said it was “very concerned” that reception staff failed to identify Stenning’s risk factors for suicide and self-harm when he arrived at the prison, and instead relied on his assertions that he had no thoughts of harming himself.

It recommended the jail’s governor “should review the local security strategy and ensure that everything possible is being done to prevent mobile phones entering the prison”.

Stenning, whose family described him as a “loyal, funny, caring boy who loved his family and friends”, was the 12th prisoner to die at Chelmsford Prison since July 2015, and there have been a further four deaths since then, the report said.

Deborah Coles, director of charity Inquest, said the responsibility for Stenning’s death rested with the “complacent and indifferent response to potentially life-saving recommendations”.

“It is chilling that the circumstances and failures of this death are so familiar. Repeated warnings from coroners and inspection and monitoring bodies about unsafe practices at Chelmsford prison have been systematically ignored,” she added.

“Ultimately, without action and accountability, nothing will change. Until this government properly invests in mental health provision, and stops the use of prison for people in mental health crisis, these tragic and needless deaths will continue.”

A prison service spokesman said the jail has recruited an extra 60 officers in the last year, “giving staff more time to provide dedicated support to every prisoner”.

It has also provided “specialist training for staff to help them identify, monitor and support vulnerable offenders”.

“We will study the recommendations of the coroner and the Prisons Ombudsman to see what further steps can be taken to better support vulnerable prisoners,” he added.