Wormwood Scrubs inmate died by hanging after wife's failed attempts to raise alarm

An inmate at Wormwood Scrubs died by hanging on March 28, 2022, after his wife's attempts to alert prison staff to his distress were hindered by technical failures. Isaiah Olugosi, 39, was found dead in his cell by another prisoner the morning after his wife's efforts to contact the jail.

Ombudsman Report Details 'Significant Failings'

A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Adrian Usher, detailed a series of "significant failings" on the night Mr Olugosi died. These included technical issues with the prison's communication systems, incomplete welfare checks, and missed opportunities to identify his risk of self-harm. Mr Olugosi had been remanded into custody on September 3, 2020, on charges including conspiracy to commit fraud. While he had no significant history of mental health issues, he had informed staff of drug and alcohol problems prior to his incarceration. The ombudsman's investigation noted instances where Mr Olugosi expressed negative thoughts to staff, and following his conviction in May 2021, he indicated he was feeling stressed about an anticipated sentence of at least 14 years.

In February 2022, a mood review found him to be "moderately depressed," reporting he felt "down, depressed or hopeless on more than half the days and felt like he was a failure nearly every day." He stated at the time that he had not felt suicidal or had thoughts of harming himself.

Wife's Desperate Efforts Thwarted

On the evening before his death, Mr Olugosi spoke to his wife, referred to as Ms D, via an illicit phone. During the conversation, he became upset. Fearing he was a suicide risk, Ms D contacted the police, who informed her they would alert the prison. Subsequently, Ms D drove to Wormwood Scrubs and spent more than two hours attempting to contact staff, leaving around 1:30am. The ombudsman's report stated: "There were even more significant failings on the night he died. The night patrol did not complete the required checks and, most distressingly, Mr Olugosi’s wife was unable to alert the prison to his suicidal state despite telephoning and attending the prison in person."

A welfare check conducted a couple of hours after Ms D's departure did not involve staff entering Mr Olugosi's cell. The report added: "It is utterly unacceptable that family members should be unable to raise the alarm at a prison when they have serious concerns for a prisoner’s welfare."

Improvements Implemented

The ombudsman outlined a series of recommendations, including the introduction of a more robust quality assurance process for cell checks and the development of a contingency plan for public arrivals at the prison. A spokesperson for the Prison Service confirmed that all recommendations have been accepted and acted upon. The spokesperson stated: "HMP Wormwood Scrubs has improved care of vulnerable prisoners following this case, including increasing the number of GPs on site, improving ways to report concerns about prisoner welfare and organising robust healthcare training for all staff."