Concerns over death of 'polite' Leyland inmate thought to be making £500k flying contraband into HMP by drone
Johnpaul Digweed’s keyworker said he was always “very polite to him and seemed to get on well with everyone.”
An investigation has taken place into the prison death of a drug dealer known as ‘Diorpaw’.
The background
The 36-year-old was serving a 25-year prison sentence for supplying vast amounts of cocaine and heroin.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Digweed was sentenced in 2022 after he was unmasked as a drug dealer who moved 40 kilos of class A drugs using the name "Diorpaw" on EncroChat, an encrypted communications network which operated as a "WhatsApp for criminals". He tried to deny he was behind the handle, but was not believed by a jury.
Drone delivery suspicions
According to the PPO, throughout his time in Garth, the prison received significant intelligence that Digweed was involved in organising drone deliveries of drugs and other illicit items, and on six occasions he was found with a mobile phone in his possession.
On February 22, 2023, an intelligence report showed that certain prisoners on C Wing, including Mr Digweed, were making about £400,000 - £500,000 every couple of months from the proceeds of contraband sent into the prison by drone. The security department assessment acknowledged that there was significant drone activity in and around the prison at that time and windows had been compromised in order to receive packages brought by drone.
Harm
When Digweed moved to HMP Garth on July 8, 2022, he told a nurse that he had no current or previous issues with drugs, suicide or self-harm or his mental health. The nurse noted he seemed in good spirits and had no long-term physical health conditions.
However, the PPO report states that while he was in HMP Leeds, Digweed self-referred to the mental health team as he had witnessed another prisoner trying to cut his throat and it was affecting his sleep, mood, appetite and ability to cope. He declined mental health intervention and denied any thoughts of suicide or self-harm. The report also states that on December 8, 2021, Mr Digweed told his partner in a prison telephone call that he was worried about the length of sentence he might receive and said he would hang himself if he was sentenced to 30 years. Staff listened to a recording of this call and submitted an intelligence report. They did not note any details in Digweed’s general prison record or take any further action.
Illicit substances and prison laptop issues
Between September 21 and 24, 2023 in Garth, Digweed was suspected to be under the influence of an illicit substance and tested positive for cocaine. During this period, he harmed himself by making superficial cuts to his chest and also injured himself by kicking his door. He was offered support from the substance misuse team at the prison, but declined to work with them.
There is no evidence that staff considered starting Prison Service suicide and self-harm support procedures, known as ACCT. On September 27, 2023, staff removed Digweed’s prison laptop after they noticed he had damaged the screen. A prison disciplinary hearing (adjudication) was opened and adjourned. The hearing was not completed before Mr Digweed died and he did not receive a replacement laptop - meaning he had less control over ordering items from the prison shop, adding credit to his prison telephone account, choosing meals and making applications as prisoners without laptops must use kiosks on the wing.
On March 10, 2024, Digweed asked to be assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A nurse replied that this would not be possible as he had no indications it was necessary.
Digweed’s prison telephone calls from prison between April 9-12 indicated that his relationship with his partner was under strain.
Death
Staff and prisoners who knew Digweed well said that he appeared in a good mood and his normal self on April 12, 2023. He was last seen alive during a routine count of prisoners at 7.39pm on that day.
At 5.17am on April 13, his observation panel was covered during the early morning routine roll check. It was still covered at a welfare check at 9.07am. The staff responsible for checking him took no action.
At about 11.30am, an officer unlocked Digweed, but did not look into his cell. Shortly afterwards, Digweed was found hanged in his cell by a fellow prisoner. Officers started CPR, but stopped when nurses discovered unequivocal evidence that Mr Digweed had died. Paramedics attended and confirmed death soon afterwards.
Findings
The PPO report found that Digweed had no significant history of attempted suicide or self-harm and relatively few factors that indicated he might be at risk. It states: “Overall, there was no indication that he was at heightened or imminent risk of harming himself in the period leading to his death”.
However, it makes a series of criticisms, including:
- “There is no evidence that ACCT monitoring was considered as it should have been after Mr Digweed behaved uncharacteristically over a period of three or four days in September 2023, despite him making made superficial cuts to his chest and injuring his ankle and foot repeatedly kicking his cell door. This was a missed opportunity to identify risk.”
- The roll check, welfare check and unlocking of Mr Digweed’s cell were not completed in line with national or local guidance. The report states: “We are satisfied that the prison has dealt with the individuals making the checks but we are concerned there is a more widespread problem with how staff respond to finding covered observation panels at Garth and that this means checks are not being done properly and records are not accurate.”
- The fact that Digweed was without a prison laptop for over six months before he died. The report states: “This impacted on his ability to control aspects of his daily prison life and might have negatively impacted his mental health and ability to maintain family ties.”
- The clinical reviewer concluded that the healthcare Digweed received for his physical health was “responsive and equivalent to that he would have received in the community”, but that his mental healthcare was moderate and only partially equivalent on the basis that he was not reviewed after harming himself in September 2023 and the nurse responding to his request for an ADHD assessment showed “insufficient clinical curiosity”.
Inquest
The Coroner’s inquest concluded on June 24, 2026 and determined that Mr Digweed had died from suicide by hanging. The jury found that there were missed opportunities to assess Mr Digweed’s mental health and provide appropriate support. Routine checks were not carried out as they should have been and these gaps in care possibly contributed to Digweed’s death.
Previous deaths at HMP Garth
There were 11 deaths in the three years before Mr Digweed died. Three of these were self-inflicted, two were drug related and six were from natural causes. A previous PPO investigation into a self-inflicted death in August 2023 found that a routine check of prisoners had not taken place and the record falsified. An officer also did not respond appropriately to finding the prisoner’s observation panel was blocked.
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Recommendations and action
The PPO has asked the Governor at Garth to introduce a robust quality assurance process until he is satisfied there is not a systemic issue with false entries and evidence how the prison will monitor the challenging of blocked observation panels to ensure compliance with local processes.
He has also asked the Governor to introduce a robust quality assurance process to satisfy himself that that all staff look through the observation panel before unlocking cells and set out how he intends to reduce the number of unheard adjudications.
Action has since been taken by the prison, including extra awareness sessions outside of the induction programme and a staff information notice will be issued to remind staff of the importance of looking through the observation panel before unlocking a cell door. There is now also a designated Operational Manager at HMP Garth who has been tasked with completing remanded adjudications.
In terms of Garth’s rural location, large perimeter, proximity to several major roads and high number of prisoners associated with organised crime meaning it is vulnerable to drugs being brought in by drone, the PPO report said: “We are satisfied that the prison is considering new measures to combat this threat.”