Inmate removed from file for vulnerable prisoners

Craig Anderson was found dead at the Isle of Man prison the day after being sentenced

A prisoner who died in his cell was taken off a document classifying him as vulnerable shortly before his death, an inquest has heard.

Craig Anderson was found dead in his cell at the Isle of Man Prison on the morning of 25 November 2022, the day after he was sentenced to five years in jail.

Up until a few days before his sentencing hearing, Mr Anderson had been subject to regular observations and had restricted access to certain items.

But the inquest heard that security officers at the court responsible for Mr Anderson during his sentencing were not fully aware of his mental state, and the prison was not informed of all the details of his reaction in court.

The inquest at Douglas Courthouse was told Mr Anderson had been placed under the prison's self-harm risk flagging policy, known as a folder five, while he was on remand for a crime he committed in July that year.

Court security officers employed by private firm Bidvest Noonan said he entered the court for his sentencing in an "upbeat" mood in November but became "agitated at inaccuracies" throughout his appearance, and "broke down crying" at the mention of his children.

Agitation

The officers told the court that while in a custody cell awaiting transportation back to the prison following the hearing Mr Anderson was "distressed" about not being able to "see his children grow up" and had punched the cell door.

The court heard the officers with the private firm, which is responsible for defendants welfare while at the court, had not been made aware he had been son a folder five until a few days beforehand - information that could have been disclosed by the prison in a prisoner escort form prior to his court appearance.

Information about Mr Anderson's agitation and distress about not being able to see his children was also not included on the form by the security officers before he was taken back to the prison.

While there were discussions among Bidvest Noonan employees about whether a folder five should be opened for Mr Anderson, this was not done, despite two of the officers telling the inquest that they had voiced concerns at the time that he should have been.

Giving evidence, senior prison officer Hannah Pullen said prior to going to court Mr Anderson told her he "was not in a good place".

She said he had been calmer when he returned to the prison later the same day, but she had put him on observations during the lunch period.

The inquest continues.