Prison worker guilty of misconduct after inmate's death

Mesut Olgun died in his cell on his first night in prison

A former prison worker has been convicted of misconduct after failing to properly check on an inmate who died on his first night in jail.

Graham Evans, 66, who worked at HMP Hewell, was found guilty by a majority verdict at Worcester Crown Court.

The court heard Mesut Olgun, from Bristol, was considered an extreme risk when he took his own life at the prison in June 2018.

Evans, who was convicted of misconduct in a public office, was due to make 33 checks on Mr Olgun, but did so only 10 times.

Police dog Bacca was attacked by Mesut Olgun in Bromyard in 2018

The judge, Mr Justice Pepperall, told the court he had "deep concerns about the lack of safer cells at HMP Hewell in 2018."

He asked for more information from the prison ombudsman to be made available.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Olgun's family, their solicitor said they were pleased with the verdict.

"The conviction is welcomed by Mesut’s family, particularly given that it is so rare for prison officers to be held to account for failing to care for inmates," said Daniel Lemberger Cooper, of Imran Khan and Partners.

Evans was convicted by majority verdict at Worcester Crown Court

Mr Olgun, 30, from Bristol, was arrested after a violent struggle in Bromyard, Herefordshire, in which he stabbed a police officer and his dog before harming himself.

On the night he died, he had been assessed as being "an immediate suicide risk" and should be checked four times every hour.

Evans told the court he knew Mr Olgun had harmed himself the day before, but he thought it had been “a cry for help".

The jury heard how the defendant made false entries in the prison log, saying he had checked Mr Olgun in his cell when he had not.

Graham Evans worked as an operational support grade at the prison

Evans was found not guilty of a separate charge of manslaughter.

He spent 33 years as a constable with West Midlands Police before starting work at HMP Hewell in November 2008.

Evans is due to be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court in January.