Custody death man Thomas Orchard 'restrained for 20 minutes'

Sgt Jan Kingshott, and civilian detention officers Michael Marsden and Simon Tansley deny manslaughter charges

A man who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest had been restrained by police for over 20 minutes, a court has heard.

Thomas Orchard, 32, who had paranoid schizophrenia, was handcuffed, held down and had a large fabric webbing belt put across his face, jurors heard.

He died in hospital seven days later.

Custody Sergeant Jan Kingshott, 44, and civilian detention officers Simon Tansley, 38, and Michael Marsden, 55, each deny two charges of manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court.

Mr Orchard was freed from the restraints and, making little or no movement, left lying face down on a mattress in his cell at Heavitree Road police station in Exeter, Devon, the trial was told.

It was another 12 minutes before the officers re-entered the locked cell and discovered he was not breathing.

Thomas Orchard died after being arrested in Exeter

The church caretaker, who was suffering a relapse in his mental health, had been arrested on the morning of 3 October 2012 in the city centre on suspicion of a public order offence.

Pathologist Dr Russell Delaney told the jury he concluded Mr Orchard had died from brain damage due to a lack of oxygen supply.

He said this had been caused by a prolonged cardio-respiratory arrest "following a violent struggle and period of physical restraint".

Dr Delaney said the application of the emergency response belt across Mr Orchard's face would have also impeded his ability to breathe.

He said it was "not possible to isolate one factor as being more important than another".

The trial continues.