Prisoner died after overdosing in cell - report

A man who repeatedly stabbed two women with a carving fork died in prison after overdosing on an antidepressant drug, a report said.

Alan Giles was jailed for 10 years after attacking the victims at their home in Harlow, Essex, in November 2019.

The 71-year-old was found dead in his cell at HMP Wayland, Norfolk, on 7 December.

An assessment by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman concluded there was "no evidence" Giles was at risk of suicide or self-harm.

During the attack on 18 November 2019, Giles inflicted 16 puncture wounds on one of his victims.

The other was stabbed and suffered chest injuries before the offender, of Woodleys, Harlow, fled the scene.

He was jailed at Chelmsford Crown Court in May 2020 having admitted two offences of causing grievous bodily harm.

Initially incarcerated at HMP Chelmsford, he was transferred to Kent's HMP Swaleside before being moved to HMP Wayland in April 2023.

He died at that jail eight months later from an overdose of the antidepressant drug citalopram, which he had been allowed to keep in his cell.

Giles collected his 28-day prescription from the medications hatch on 21 November, the report outlined.

"Staff had not had any reason to suspect that he was not taking his medication as prescribed," the ombudsman said.

It explained staff could not confirm if Giles had taken more than his prescribed daily dose prior to his death.

This was because his medication was not returned to health workers at the prison following the clearance of his cell after he died.

A post-mortem examination determined his cause of death was citalopram toxicity.

"There is no evidence that Mr Giles was at risk of suicide and self-harm or that he intentionally took more citalopram than he should have done," the ombudsman concluded.

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