Inquests open into deaths of two prisoners

At least 11 Lowdham Grange prisoners have died in the last two years

Inquests have opened into the deaths of two prisoners who were serving sentences at HMP Lowdham Grange.

Stephen Metcalfe was 47 when he died at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham on 30 December 2024, while 24-year-old Adam Diesa-Green was confirmed deceased at the Nottinghamshire prison on 17 January this year.

On Thursday, the inquest heard synthetic cannabinoids - also known as Spice - was a factor in connection with the cause of both deaths.

They are two of 11 prisoners who have died in the last two years while carrying out custodial terms at the Category B jail.

For Metcalfe, a provisional medical cause of death was listed as "use of synthetic cannabinoid", with coronary artery atheroma cited as a secondary factor.

In the case of Diesa-Green, a cardiac arrest was given as the primary provisional medical cause of death, with use of synthetic cannabinoids also listed as contributory.

As they were both in prison at the time, a full inquest at a later date will require a jury to ascertain the causes and circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Conditions at Lowdham Grange have been criticised for some time, with an inquest into three deaths in early 2023 finding repeated failures.