A 25-year-old inmate was discovered dead in his cell at HMP Parc prison, Bridgend, just 45 minutes after a disciplinary notice was slid under his door, according to a report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO). The inmate, Lewis Petryszyn, who had been serving a sentence for drug trafficking and assault, had a history of mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for which he was prescribed fluoxetine.

On the day of his death, a prison officer delivered disciplinary paperwork by sliding it under the cell door, assuming the inmate and his cellmate were asleep, reports WalesOnline. Approximately 45 minutes later, another officer found the inmate unresponsive on the floor, with his cellmate sitting on his bed, staring into space. A post-mortem examination revealed the presence of two types of illicit psychoactive substances, the antipsychotic olanzapine—which had not been prescribed to him—and his prescribed antidepressant, mirtazapine.

The PPO report highlighted several failings by prison staff, including the improper delivery of disciplinary paperwork, which breached local policy and potentially delayed emergency medical care. The report also criticised the prison's handling of the inmate's mental health needs and the availability of illicit drugs within the facility.

The inmate's death is one of several at HMP Parc in recent years, raising concerns about the prison's management and the effectiveness of its drug prevention measures.

The PPO has made several recommendations to address these issues, emphasising the need for improved staff training, better mental health support for inmates, and stricter control of illicit substances within the prison.

HMP Parc, operated by private security firm G4S, has faced criticism for its handling of inmate welfare and the prevalence of drugs within the facility. The prison has pledged to implement the PPO's recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Ombudsman Kelly Bingham said in her report: "Mr Petryszyn was unresponsive and resuscitation attempts failed. The post-mortem found two types of illicit psychoactive substance in his system as well as an antipsychotic, olanzapine – which he had not been prescribed – and one of his prescribed antidepressants, mirtazapine.

Local policy was breached by the officer who put the paperwork under the door rather than handing it to the inmate in person.

She explained:"This meant that staff missed a possible opportunity to provide emergency medical care to Mr Petryszyn sooner.

The full PPO report can be accessed on the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman website.