Failures as 'at risk' man found hanged after 36 hours in jail

A MAN hanged himself in jail shortly after being remanded for threats to burn down his own home. An inquest jury found failures by HMP Swansea and the Swansea Bay University Health Board probably contributed to the death of 52-year-old David Bassett.

- CONOR GOGARTY Investigations editor [e-mail]

Mr Bassett had been at the prison for only 36 hours when he was found hanged on December 1, 2019. He had arrived with warnings that he was at risk of suicide yet staff failed to start self-harm monitoring procedures.

It comes after last month's scathing report into the death of another HMP Swansea prisoner, Mark Johnston.

At Mr Bassett's inquest his family were represented by 30 Park Place Chambers, which said he had been remanded on an arson charge after pouring petrol around his house and on himself and threatening to burn down the home while staying inside.

In her report prisons ombudsman Sue McAllister said: "This was his first time in prison for 10 years. Mr Bassett arrived at Swansea with suicide and self-harm warnings, which were recorded on his person escort record and on a suicide/self-harm warning form.