Parc Prison inmate death not drug related, inquest told

An investigation has been launched after a spate of fatalities occurred at Parc Prison within weeks

An inquest into the death of an inmate at a prison in south Wales has heard it was not drug related.

The body of Justin Lewis, 29, was found in his cell at HMP Parc, Bridgend, by prison officers on 16 March.

He is one of six to die at the facility between 27 February and 19 March, four of which are believed to be drug related.

A new powerful synthetic opioid called Nitazene has been identified in connection with those fatalities.

An investigation into the incidents is being carried out by the prisons and probation ombudsman.

At Pontypridd Coroner's Court on Tuesday usher Beverly Morgan read a brief report into the death.

• Six inmates die at prison within three weeks

She said: "Mr Lewis suffered with mental health issues.

"Prison officers entered his cell to administer medication but found him dead at 16:56 GMT on 16 March."

His body was formally identified by a family member on 21 March.

The assistant coroner for south Wales central, Rachel Knight, adjourned the inquest and estimated it would take place in six months.

She passed on her condolences to Mr Lewis's family.

Opened in November 1997, HMP Parc is a category B local prison holding convicted male adult and young offenders and convicted and remand sex offenders.

At the time of a 2019 inspection it held 1,612 prisoners, making it one of the largest prisons in the UK.