A man was found dead in his prison cell two days after telling his mum on the phone he was "lonely".
Stuart Robinson, from Billinge, Wigan was 20 years old when he was found dead in his cell at HMP Altcourse. HMP Altcourse is a Category B men's prison that holds around 1,164 prisoners.
An inquest held into his death today at the Gerard Majella Courthouse heard that Mr Robinson was found in his cell at around 5am on April 25, 2021. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at 5.16am.
READ MORE: Eurovision's Rylan Clark blown away by Scouse trait as he's 'never seen anything like it'
The inquest heard that Mr Robinson had been sentenced on March 3 that year to 26 weeks in custody and arrived with a "suicide and self-harm warning."
Assistant coroner Kate Ainge said he was a "young man who had a number of adverse life experiences." There had been a number of deaths in his family, of which the anniversaries were coming up..
The hearing heard how while in prison, Mr Robinson had self-harmed on two occasions before his death. A statement read out to the court from his mum Carrie Payne heard how Mr Robinson had five other half siblings and growing up he was "as normal a child as can be."
However, she added that in 2014, a "bombshell hit the family" when he was arrested for sex offences for which he pleaded guilty. At the age of 17, he moved to accommodation in St Helens and kept regular contact with his mum.
The hearing heard how Mr Robinson, who had also served a six month sentence for robbery, suffered with "suicidal tendencies". In her statement Mrs Payne added: "Although I hadn't seen him for some time, I spoke to him regularly on phone."
Mrs Payne said she believed he was "lonely and depressed" and on April 23 he had expressed concerns he was now in a cell on his own after his cell mate left. She added he told her he loved her which he "never normally does", which was the "last time I spoke to him."
Pathologist Brian Rodgers said Mr Robinson was "known to suffer suicidal tendencies" and was being observed five times every hour, which was then reduced to twice a day.
He told the hearing inmates were on a "lockdown" from 5pm to 5am and on the morning of April 25, when a prison officer was doing his rounds, Mr Robinson was not in his bed. He told the hearing emergency procedures were unsuccessful and gave an initial cause of death as ligature hanging.
Speaking to the jury, he added that often, there is a four to five minute window for resuscitation before a person is left with "serious brain damage". However here, the time of death was likely to have been during the early hours of the morning.
The hearing also heard from Donna Morgan, head of safer custody at HMP Altcourse who spoke about how risks are spotted from a prisoner's arrival and how health care assessments are carried out and those risks reduced.
Speaking about ACT processes (Assessment Care in Custody and Teamwork) she said anyone who works in the prison can open an ACT document for prisoners who are deemed at risk of self harm or suicide. Regular observations are carried out before a care plan is in place within 24 hours.
Appearing on behalf of the prison, barrister Mr Scott Matthewson said the "fundamental purpose of the act is to get someone through a period of crisis", adding that the improvements a prisoner makes, a reduction in support will be given which is a national system. When he asked Ms Morgan how someone can self harm in prison, she replied: "Most of the time it's everyday objects.
"We take as many precautions as we possibly can.
Mr Matthewson added: "It's not something you can realistically prevent?" as Ms Morgan replied: "No."
The inquest will continue this week.
READ NEXT:
Eurovision's Rylan Clark blown away by Scouse trait as he's 'never seen anything like it'
Police issue update as house sealed off and woman arrested
Couple asleep in their bed wake to see three men stood over them with knives
Hitman who shot dead 'Mr Big' stabbed in head and neck in prison
