HMP Liverpool prison officers acquitted over inmate's death

Prison officer Rachel Jameson and custodial manager Paul Fairhurst have been cleared of all charges

Two prison officers who were charged with gross negligence manslaughter after an inmate took his own life have been acquitted.

Custodial manager Paul Fairhurst, 64, and senior officer Rachel Jameson, 32, faced charges over the death of Anthony Paine at HMP Liverpool in 2018.

A Liverpool Crown Court spokesman said they had both been found not guilty.

Mr Fairhurst, of Chorley, and Ms Jameson, of Prescot, had both denied the charges against them.

Their trial had heard Mr Paine, who had schizophrenia and a history of self-harm and drug abuse, was put on a "basic regime" in the days before he died because of his use of the psychoactive substance spice.

The court heard that by the time of his death on 19 February 2018, he had harmed himself on a number of occasions, had been difficult to manage, appeared to have been abusing spice and was unhappy with his cell ,which was painted a dark colour and had no electric light.

Mr Fairhurst and Ms Jameson were acquitted of gross negligence manslaughter and an alternative charge of failing to discharge general health and safety duty at work contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

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