Latest news with #IsleOfSheppey
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Inmate died after ‘restraint-related' incident in prison, inquest hears
A home office doctor has warned jurors about the 'complex' restraint-related death of a father-of-four prisoner, an inquest heard. Azroy Dawes-Clarke, 28, from Romford, east London, was an inmate at HMP Elmley, on the Isle of Sheppey, when he died after suffering multiple cardiac arrests on November 10 2021. He is alleged to have attempted to commit suicide by suffocation before becoming violent and being 'restrained' by prison staff. The medical cause of death has been given as hypoxic ischemic brain injury but it is unclear when and by whom that injury was caused. On Wednesday, Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Olaf Biedrzycki told jurors at Kent and Medway Coroner's Court in Maidstone that medically, Mr Dawes-Clarke's case was 'about as difficult as it gets' for him. He said: 'The cause of death is given as hypoxic ischemic brain injury that's due to either the fact that his heart or lungs stopped working … and that happened very quickly after a period of third-party restraint, which happened shortly after seizure-like activity, which was treated with Diazepam. 'That all followed compression of the neck with a ligature.' There had been a previous incident where Mr Dawes-Clarke had attempted to self-harm or commit suicide two days before his death, the court heard. Body-worn camera footage taken in HMP Elmley and shown in court showed four officers kneeling on and next to Mr Dawes-Clarke, who was face down on the floor prior to his first cardiac arrest. He could be heard yelling repeatedly while restrained, until he was handcuffed and then went limp. One officer was heard saying, 'Have we got a pulse on him? We're not sure if he's breathing, we're not sure', as Mr Dawes-Clarke lay on the floor. Medical staff began CPR before he was taken to hospital, he suffered two more cardiac arrests in the ambulance and a fourth upon his arrival at hospital, where he died soon after. Dr Biedrzycki added that the 'crux' of the inquest would be whether Mr Dawes-Clarke recovered between the suicide attempt and the restraint from prison officers. 'The restraint element is of greater importance if you conclude that the initial ligature compression did not actually cause him to be unconscious and fitting,' he added. Mr Dawes-Clarke's alleged history of self-harm and suicide attempts whilst in prison was not known to the family; he also had several physical health conditions that required ongoing treatment, the court heard. His mother, Marcia Neil, was indignant through tears as she told the court: 'Maybe if they'd phoned me, I could have helped!' Reading a pen portrait, his sister, Shay Inico, said: 'My brother was more than just family; he was my anchor, my confidant, and my unwavering source of support. He was kind-hearted and compassionate, always putting the needs of others before his own. 'Losing him in such a senseless and cruel manner has completely shattered me. The thought of him being restrained, suffering and treated without dignity haunts me every single day.' Father-of-four Mr Dawes-Clarke liked fantasy films and played semi-professional football, he was in the Arsenal FC academy while he was growing up. 'I share this statement because my brother's story deserves to be heard. He was a person full of love, kindness, and potential. He was not defined by his circumstances, and he deserved so much more than the injustice he faced. His life mattered, and his memory will forever remain in our hearts,' said Ms Inico. On Wednesday, his mother, sister and uncle were in court to observe proceedings, and his brother appeared via video-link. Mr Dawes-Clarke was recalled to HMP Elmley on April 23 2020 after breaching his license. 'Where restraint-related deaths do occur, they're invariably erroneously complex cases,' Dr Biedrzycki warned jurors. He added: 'This is about as difficult as it gets for forensic pathologists, and I don't have all the answers.' The inquest continues and is listed until July 11.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Inmate died after ‘restraint-related' incident in prison, inquest hears
A home office doctor has warned jurors about the 'complex' restraint-related death of a father-of-four prisoner, an inquest heard. Azroy Dawes-Clarke, 28, from Romford, east London, was an inmate at HMP Elmley, on the Isle of Sheppey, when he died after suffering multiple cardiac arrests on November 10 2021. He is alleged to have attempted to commit suicide by suffocation before becoming violent and being 'restrained' by prison staff. The medical cause of death has been given as hypoxic ischemic brain injury but it is unclear when and by whom that injury was caused. On Wednesday, Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Olaf Biedrzycki told jurors at Kent and Medway Coroner's Court in Maidstone that medically, Mr Dawes-Clarke's case was 'about as difficult as it gets' for him. He said: 'The cause of death is given as hypoxic ischemic brain injury that's due to either the fact that his heart or lungs stopped working … and that happened very quickly after a period of third-party restraint, which happened shortly after seizure-like activity, which was treated with Diazepam. 'That all followed compression of the neck with a ligature.' There had been a previous incident where Mr Dawes-Clarke had attempted to self-harm or commit suicide two days before his death, the court heard. Body-worn camera footage taken in HMP Elmley and shown in court showed four officers kneeling on and next to Mr Dawes-Clarke, who was face down on the floor prior to his first cardiac arrest. He could be heard yelling repeatedly while restrained, until he was handcuffed and then went limp. One officer was heard saying, 'Have we got a pulse on him? We're not sure if he's breathing, we're not sure', as Mr Dawes-Clarke lay on the floor. Medical staff began CPR before he was taken to hospital, he suffered two more cardiac arrests in the ambulance and a fourth upon his arrival at hospital, where he died soon after. Dr Biedrzycki added that the 'crux' of the inquest would be whether Mr Dawes-Clarke recovered between the suicide attempt and the restraint from prison officers. 'The restraint element is of greater importance if you conclude that the initial ligature compression did not actually cause him to be unconscious and fitting,' he added. Mr Dawes-Clarke's alleged history of self-harm and suicide attempts whilst in prison was not known to the family; he also had several physical health conditions that required ongoing treatment, the court heard. His mother, Marcia Neil, was indignant through tears as she told the court: 'Maybe if they'd phoned me, I could have helped!' Reading a pen portrait, his sister, Shay Inico, said: 'My brother was more than just family; he was my anchor, my confidant, and my unwavering source of support. He was kind-hearted and compassionate, always putting the needs of others before his own. 'Losing him in such a senseless and cruel manner has completely shattered me. The thought of him being restrained, suffering and treated without dignity haunts me every single day.' Father-of-four Mr Dawes-Clarke liked fantasy films and played semi-professional football, he was in the Arsenal FC academy while he was growing up. 'I share this statement because my brother's story deserves to be heard. He was a person full of love, kindness, and potential. He was not defined by his circumstances, and he deserved so much more than the injustice he faced. His life mattered, and his memory will forever remain in our hearts,' said Ms Inico. On Wednesday, his mother, sister and uncle were in court to observe proceedings, and his brother appeared via video-link. Mr Dawes-Clarke was recalled to HMP Elmley on April 23 2020 after breaching his license. 'Where restraint-related deaths do occur, they're invariably erroneously complex cases,' Dr Biedrzycki warned jurors. He added: 'This is about as difficult as it gets for forensic pathologists, and I don't have all the answers.' The inquest continues and is listed until July 11.
Telegraph
09-06-2025
- Telegraph
Prisoner yelled ‘who wants it?' before hurling boiling water at guard
A violent prisoner cried 'who wants it?' before throwing a kettle of boiling water at a guard, a court has heard. Dominic Hedges, 43, whose criminal record dates back almost 30 years, confronted the officer at his cell in Elmley Prison on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The prisoner's door was unlocked by mistake on May 18 last year and the guard, Omos Emaniru, had returned to secure it again before finding the career criminal holding his recently boiled kettle in his hands with the lid open. CCTV and the guard's body-worn cameras showed that Hedges then threw scalding water across Mr Emaniru's head and jacket. The criminal later pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and was 'disgusted' by his actions, Maidstone Crown Court was told at his sentencing hearing. Hedges, who has 24 convictions for 58 offences, was jailed for two years. The officer had only been working at the prison for a year when he was attacked, the court heard. The previous day, Hedges was persistently ringing his cell bell and told Mr Emaniru there 'would be consequences' if he was not let out of his cell. The guard told him he would mark his record with a negative entry. On the day of the assault, prison bosses decided to keep Hedges's door locked because he was banging and making further threats. But the court was told Mr Emaniru forgot and, on being reminded of his mistake by a colleague, went back to rectify it. As he reached the cell door Hedges shouted 'who wants it?' and threw the water at him, resulting in scabbing to the head as well as migraines and anxiety. Prosecutor Nathan Fitzpatrick said the victim returned to work after two days, but was physically shaking while unlocking cell doors and constantly looking over his shoulder. Mr Emaniru wrote in a statement that was read to the court: 'I was worried this would happen again. 'I am now more vigilant and if I see a kettle it makes me think about what happened to me.' 'Paranoid and hearing voices' At the time of the attack, Hedges was one month into a 16-month jail term handed to him for three other assaults committed on emergency workers. His lawyer Simone Newton argued the latest attack was unplanned and had occurred 'in the heat of the moment' after a restless night and substance abuse. She said: 'He had difficulties with drugs and had spent the night not being able to sleep properly. He was paranoid and hearing voices. 'He accepts he took some Spice and this made things worse for his mental health. 'Mr Hedges said he understands the prison officer doesn't deserve to come to work and be reacted to in that way while just trying to do his job. He is disgusted by his actions that day and says he did see the officer some months down the line and apologised.' Tougher restrictions on kettles Recorder Daniel Stevenson, as he jailed Hedges, highlighted the public's demands that inmates not be allowed kettles. There have already been demands for tougher restrictions on kettles for dangerous offenders after the Southport killer Axel Rudakubana allegedly threw boiling water over an officer at HMP Belmarsh on May 8. Another prison officer was scalded with boiling water from a kettle, and a different guard was left with a broken jaw after violent attacks at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire later in May. Just weeks before, Hashem Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, threw hot cooking oil over three officers. He then stabbed them with two knives made out of baking trays in the kitchen of Frankland jail's separation unit. The Prison Officers' Association has called for terrorists and violent prisoners who assault officers to be kept in US-style 'supermax units' where they are only allowed out of cells once a day while handcuffed and supervised by three officers. Some 10,605 assaults on staff in male and female jails were recorded in 2024, a record high up from 9,204 in 2023 and nearly three times the 3,640 in 2014. Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered a rapid review into whether prison officers should be issued with stab vests and trained to use Tasers. The court heard that Hedges, who has been recalled to prison on several occasions, currently has no 'anticipated' release date.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Disruption after boat hits Kingsferry Bridge in Kent
Railway services have been disrupted after a boat hit a bridge. Network Rail said it was notified at about 8:15 BST that a "commercial boat" had collided with the Kingsferry Bridge, connecting the Isle of Sheppey and mainland Kent. Southeastern said it suspended the Sheerness-on-Sea line due to the strike, although it added shortly after 10:00 that normal services would resume of up to 25 minutes on Southeastern trains between Sittingbourne and Sheerness were reported by INRIX after the strike. Network Rail said the bridge was held in a raised position while its teams examined the structure, which they deemed "safe to reopen".It thanked passengers for their patience. Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it was not called to the incident. The police have been contacted.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Kent mum given months to live after late cancer diagnosis
A 22-year-old mother says she may only have months to live after being diagnosed with a rare cancer despite dozens of visits to the Howells, from the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, recently began chemotherapy for Langerhans cell sarcoma after a protracted diagnosis fiancé, Jack Rogers, said that Ms Howells visited her GP and Medway Maritime Hospital about "30 times in six months with various pains" before appropriate testing Medway NHS Foundation Trust declined to comment. Ms Howells, who has a three-year-old son, said she had been unwell since November, before her visits to her GP and hospital and eventual Rogers said: "Each time she was assured it was some virus which would pass – but she was being sick nearly every day."Ms Howells is undergoing chemotherapy at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London for Langerhans cell sarcoma, a cancer thought to affect two in every 100 million remains to be seen how effective chemotherapy will be, but the family said they were preparing themselves for the possibility that Ms Howells may only have months to light of this, Mr Rogers' mother, Steph Plank, has set up a fundraising page to create "memories" for the trio – including a wedding for the engaged couple."Once we have made our memories, any money left over will be donated to The Royal Marsden Hospital to help them do research and create awareness of the disease," Ms Plank Rogers said he had been "bowled over" by the generosity of fundraising page has raised almost £7,000 so far.
