12/07/2024
Kidnapper who abducted girl, six, died of drug overdose at HMP Northumberland
Joseph Davies was found unresponsive in his cell, kneeling by his bed, surrounded by empty packets of medication last year
A kidnapper who abducted a young girl and molested her killed himself by taking an overdose in prison.
In 2019, Joseph Davies was given an extended 10-year prison sentence after he kidnapped, imprisoned and molested a six-year-old girl as she played in broad daylight. The pervert abducted the girl - who was in her school uniform - and took her to an empty house where he s*xually assaulted her and locked her in a back garden.
He initially gave a false alibi but later admitted kidnapping, false imprisonment, s*xual assault and offending with intent to commit a s*xual offence.
Davies, who committed the terrifying offences in Teesside and was from Billingham, was serving his sentence at HMP Northumberland, a category C men's prison. But four years into his sentence, on February 12 last year, Davies was found unresponsive in his cell, kneeling by his bed, surrounded by empty packets of medication.
Staff tried to resuscitate him and, having recovered a pulse, paramedics took him to hospital. However, the 27-year-old died later that day, with a pathologist concluding that he died as a result of mixed drug toxicity of his prescribed medication.
Following his su***de, an investigation was launched by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, who recently published their report. The report found that the clinical care provided to Davies at HMP Northumberland was of a high standard. However, the risk assessment which allowed Davies to keep his prescribed medication did not follow procedure and important risk information was not considered.
The report found that the non-clinical care provided to Davies was of a good standard overall. His risks were identified and managed effectively by staff, who took a "compassionate approach". There was "no evidence that they could have foreseen an imminent risk of harm on the day Mr Davies died", the report says.
On January 9, 2019, Davies received an extended determinate sentence of six years imprisonment and four years on licence in the community. He was transferred to HMP Northumberland where he continued to see the mental health team with support from a psychologist, speech and language therapist and mental health nurse.
The recently published report says: "They assessed that he had a learning disability and traits of autism, and worked with him to help him cope with this in prison. He was twice monitored under ACCT procedures, once after saying he had overdosed on his antidepressants." In September 2022, Davies was discharged from the mental health team.
Davies told staff that "he was happy at Northumberland and did not want to be considered for early release by the Parole Board". In November, a nurse assessed that Davies could keep seven days’ worth of antidepressant and epilepsy medications in his cell and self-administer.
The report adds: "On February 12, 2023, Mr Davies went to the visits hall in the morning for his first visit since being at Northumberland. His sister did not bring the correct identification so the visit was cancelled and Mr Davies was taken back to his houseblock. Staff said that he did not seem distressed. He went straight back into his cell, choosing not to mix with other prisoners on the houseblock.
"At lunchtime, Mr Davies was found unresponsive, kneeling by his bed, surrounded by empty packets of medication. Staff tried to resuscitate him and, having recovered a pulse, paramedics took him to hospital. Mr Davies died later that day. The pathologist concluded that Mr Davies died as a result of mixed drug toxicity of his prescribed medication." Davies was the 17th prisoner to die at HMP Northumberland since February 2020.
The report also made a recommendation that the Head of Healthcare should ensure that all staff who undertake Medication in Possession Risk Assessments (MIPRA) follow the Spectrum Medicines in Possession policy and review the prisoner’s medical record as part of their assessment.
The most recent inspection of HMP Northumberland was in August and September 2022. Inspectors found that safety and respect had improved at the prison since their last inspection in 2017. However, inspectors were concerned that the number of self- inflicted deaths at Northumberland was higher than at most comparable prisons. Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) documents for prisoners at risk of su***de and self-harm were poorly completed and prisoners said they did not feel supported.
