Rallying call to save Royal British Legion clubs
- Today's leader
Death of Stoke Heath inmate, 18
Wednesday 6th April 2011, 7:53AM BST.
Efforts are being made to reduce reoffending rates at Stoke Heath YOI
A teenager has been found hanged in his cell at a Shropshire young offenders’ institution, it emerged today.
Nicholas Saunders, 18, was serving a sentence at HMP Stoke Heath YOI, near Market Drayton.
The teenager, who was believed to be from Shropshire, was found hanged at 1.30pm on Saturday.
Staff attempted emergency resuscitation and paramedics tried to save him, but Mr Saunders was pronounced dead at 2.40pm.
A Prison Service spokesman said today: “As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation.”
Staff at the custody unit today said they were “saddened” by the death and were due to hold a memorial service for Mr Saunders.
It comes after Dame Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons, said in her most recent report that the facility was failing to meet the needs of young inmates.
Her findings included claims that inspectors found processes for the reception and support of young adults in the early days in custody were inadequate.
Earlier this year it emerged the unit could lose its section for juveniles with about 200 youngsters moved to two other sites, potentially putting up to 60 jobs at risk.
The Prison Service said it would take a “wide range of factors” into account when making decisions about the future capacity requirements at the unit.
Officials said the shake-up was on the cards in the wake of the Ministry of Justice’s spending review settlement as part of wider public spending cuts.
Most Commented
- Shropshire Council will face £8m redundancy bill
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff doesn't raise a smile
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
R.I.P. Nicholas my nephew this should not have happened to such a young soul.
How many more young lives will be taken before something is done about Stoke Heath
Report abuse
r.i.p nick u were a lovely lad this shouldnt of happened sending love 2 ur loved ones at this sad time r.i.p mate
Report abuse
RIP cuz X
Report abuse
this should never of happened, they should of taken care of him. R.I.P nick we all loveyou xxx
Report abuse
we will miss you loads r.i.p nick
we all send our love :( xx
Report abuse
R.I.P Nick i did not know you but my son did he is in Stoke Heath, he said that you and him where due to be released on the same day and you had both said that you would share a lift back home together, he only met you a few times but i know your death has rocked him to the core, why when you only had a few months left to go, deepest sympathy to your family x
Report abuse