Prison suicide inquiry begins

An official report found Blakenhurst to be "rife with bullying"

An investigation is under way after a fourth inmate in three months was found hanged at Blakenhurst Prison.

David Steven Boote, 32, was under observation on the medical wing when he was found hanging from a belt.

He was taken to the Alexandra Hospital, in Redditch, and pronounced dead just after midnight on Monday.

Another inmate at the prison attempted to take his own life on Sunday and was later resuscitated.

Double killer

Blakenhurst has been the focus of a number of critical reports - one said that the staff did not exert a controlling presence - and the conditions have been described as dirty and squalid.

Mr Boote was on remand at the Worcestershire prison awaiting trial for murder.

He appeared before magistrates three days before his death jointly accused of killing Natalie Bowcott at her home in Arrow Walk, Walker's Heath, Birmingham, on 1 June.

During the past three months four prisoners have died after being found hanging at the prison, including 44-year-old Steven Wilson, from Birmingham.

His body was discovered in March, days after he was sentenced to a double life term for the murders of his two young sons.

Disabled prisoner

The day before, 28-year-old Rajwinder Singh Mutti, also from Birmingham, was found hanged at Blakenhurst while he was on remand awaiting trial for a charge of grievous bodily harm.

Ian Price, 24, also died after hanging himself from a bed frame at the prison while serving a two-year sentence for criminal damage and taking a vehicle without consent.

At least two other inmates have made serious attempts at suicide, including a disabled prisoner who was put on a life support machine after he tried to take his life.

Speaking after the latest suicide, Tricia Bradbury, the head of the independent board of monitors at Blakenhurst said lessons must be learned quickly to prevent more deaths.

"I went in (to the prison) to observe the scene, see that protocols were being followed.

"I talked to staff and talked to prisoners there and we will help feed into this whole investigation to see whether any lessons can be learned."

A Prison Service spokesman said West Mercia Police and the coroner had been informed about the latest incident.