Death at Guys Marsh prison prompts call to curb illicit alcohol and drugs | Prisons and probation

Ministers should draw up a specific policy to reduce inmate access to illicitly brewed alcohol and medication after the death of a vulnerable prisoner, a coroner has said.

An inquest jury found last month that Sheldon Jeans, who was discovered dead in his cell at HMP Guys Marsh on or about 13 November 2022, had died as a result of consuming illegal alcohol and four different medications that had not been prescribed to him, recording death by misadventure.

Rachael Griffin, the senior Dorset coroner, issued a prevention of future deaths (PFD) report in response to findings at the inquest, highlighting national policy and guidance relating to the handling of hooch and medication in prisons as areas for concern.

“In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is…