Outcome for Leeds prisoner found hanging 'could have been different' if report was shared, investigation finds
Prison staff not told of mental-health issues
A prisoner found hanging in his cell a day after arriving at HMP Leeds was not deemed to be a suicide risk, a report found.
But details about Steven Mullen’s state of mind were shared with the prison prior to his death in 2024.
He was being held on remand amid domestic violence allegations.
A report in to his death conducted by the Prisons and Probations Ombudsman (PPO) found that he had written an unsent letter to his wife outlining his hopes for the future hours before he died.
However, it later transpired that a person escort report (PER) that outlined a history of depression was not seen by staff at HMP Leeds.
When he was taken to the prison on November 29, 2024, he confirmed that he had a history of drug use, but denied any mental-health problems or thoughts of suicide.
The 48-year-old was placed into the induction wing and staff made four checks on him without incident through his first night.
It was not until the following evening that his cellmate fell asleep and woke up shortly before 9.30pm to find Mr Mullen hanging.
Staff attempted CPR but he could not be saved.
The letter penned to his wife was later found in the cell in which he said if she did not respond he would understand. No mention or hint was made of suicidal thoughts.
The PPO’s report found that the care received at HMP Leeds was of a required standard.
The findings read: “We are satisfied that staff at Leeds appropriately assessed Mr Mullen’s risk of suicide and self-harm and that they could not reasonably have predicted or prevented his death.”
However, it noted that a five-day jury inquest suggested: “The outcome might have been different if information known to the police about Mr Mullen’s mental health had been known to the prison.
Mr Mullen was the 14th prisoner to take his life at Leeds since November 2021.