Prisoner died the day after release from prison

AN inmate who died the day after his release from prison should have been referred to a substance misuse service, a report has found.

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Leigh Brydges died aged 47 on August 25, 2022, following his release from HMP Humber in Brough the previous day. An inquest into his death, held on April 1, 2025, concluded his death was drug related.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman said Mr Brydges had a “history of alcohol and substance misuse” in its report into his death, which was published on April 4. But when he arrived at the prison, he told the reception nurse he hadn't taken drugs for three months, and so was not referred to the substance misuse services.

On May 20, 2022, a prison officer saw Mr Brydges “retrieve something from his visitor's waistband" during a visit and put it in his mouth. The officer searched Mr Brydges, while another officer checked the CCTV.