Terminally-ill prisoner in a wheelchair 'inappropriately restrained' on hospital visits

A LEICESTERSHIRE prison “inappropriately restrained” a career criminal during hospital visits despite him being terminally ill and confined to a wheelchair, a prison watchdog has found.

- By DYLAN HAYWARD

Brian Kemp remained handcuffed for eight days during his final hospital stay and was restrained throughout an emergency procedure to drain fluid from around his heart.

The prisoner had 83 convictions dating back to 1982, including two armed robberies with an imitation firearm, burglary, conspiracy to supply drugs and witness intimidation.

He was serving three years at HMP Fosse Way, near Glen Parva, for making threats to kill when he died of lung cancer on January 26.

In a report published last week, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman found that restraints were not appropriate given the 58-year-old’s deteriorating health, terminal diagnosis and use of a wheelchair.

The watchdog’s damning report also revealed Kemp's cancer diagnosis was likely delayed by five months after he missed four hospital appointments due to chronic staff shortages at the prison.