Inquest jury rules man took his own life

An inmate found hanged in his cell at Lincoln Jail had shown ‘pent up anger’ at his situation in the weeks before his death, an inquest jury was told.
Lincoln Cathedral Centre G110927-4cLincoln Cathedral Centre G110927-4c
Lincoln Cathedral Centre G110927-4c

Daniel Baillie caused concern among staff after he was discovered to have self-harmed inflicting ‘four or five’ superficial cuts to his arms within a week of being recalled back to prison.

The inquest at Lincoln Cathedral Centre heard Mr Baillie’s injuries were reported to medical staff and he received treatment. But the 21-year-old described it as a ‘moment of madness’ and said he had no intention of doing it again.

Mr Baillie refused to work at his assigned duties and was placed on disciplinary measures but at a hearing less than 48 hours before he died he told staff that he was happy to resume work.

Mr Baillie , originally from Gainsborough but living at an address in Lincoln at the time of his recall to prison, was found hanged in his cell during an early morning check on 13th August 2012.

It was only then prison staff discovered evidence of extensive self-harming with over 80 superficial cuts of variable ages on each arm

Pathologist Prof Guy Rutty said that the death was caused by hanging.

Probation officer Helen Sackfield said she passed on information about Mr Baillie she got from the inmate’s own probation officer Hilary Garnett.

Ms Sackfield said: “She was concerned about his demeanour. She had a gut feeling all wasn’t well.”

“She felt concern about pent up anger inside of him. There was a seething anger. She telephoned me and said he was extremely low in mood. He didn’t speak to her about self harm.”

An investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman led to eight recommendations being implemented.

At the end of the four day hearing the jury concluded that Daniel Baillie killed himself.

Mid Lincolnshire Coroner Stuart Fisher expressed his condolences to Mr Baillie’s family.

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