Secure centre care officer 'unaware of restraint rules'

Adam Rickwood was hit on the nose and carried back to his cell

A care officer at a secure training centre where a boy was found hanged has told an inquest she was not aware of rules restricting the use of restraint.

Adam Rickwood, of Burnley in Lancashire, was discovered at Hassockfield Secure Training Centre, County Durham, in 2004. He was 14.

Hours before he died, he was struck on the nose, using the Nose Distraction Technique, and carried to his cell.

Care officer Claire Murray said physical restraint was used regularly.

She told the hearing at Durham County Council Offices, in Easington, that she had understood physical restraint was appropriate as a way of "maintaining good order and discipline".

Arms grabbed

However, jurors have already been told that secure training centres outlawed use of force except to prevent escape, injury or damage to property.

Adam was the youngest person to die in UK custody in modern times.

In the hours before his death, the teenager had refused to be punished by being put in his cell at the privately-run institution, and would not move from the association area.

Four members of staff used the Physical Control in Care method, which involved two people grabbing his arms, one placing both hands on his head and the other lifting his legs.

One member of staff, apparently fearing Adam was about to bite, hit his nose.

He was put in his cell, where he was later found hanged.

In 2009, the High Court ordered a second inquest into his death, saying the Nose Distraction Technique technique was unlawful.

Judges also said the first jury was not told of Adam's removal from association with other pupils.