Drug dealer 'earning £500k' from prison cell

A drug dealer was making "between £400,000 and £500,000 every two months" before he was found hanged in his cell at HMP Garth, in Lancashire, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has said.

Johnpaul Digweed was sentenced to a 25-year sentence for supplying drugs in June 2022 and transferred to Garth, near Leyland, the following month.

The 36-year-old "was involved in organising drone deliveries of drugs and other illicit items", into the prison, a report said.

There was "significant evidence that he was involved in prison drug culture", was "wanted" by organised crime gangs outside the prison and was worried about debts, it said.

"On six occasions he was found with a mobile phone in his possession," the report said.

In September 2023 Digweed tested positive for cocaine and during this time he "harmed himself by making superficial cuts to his chest".

He was offered support, which he declined, the report said.

On 27 September, staff removed Digweed's prison laptop after they noticed he had damaged the screen.

He was without a laptop for six months which "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".

His telephone calls from this period also indicated that his relationship with his partner was "under strain," the ombudsman said.

On 1 November, CCTV showed four prisoners enter Digweed's cell and he was later found to have "injuries consistent with him being slashed with a blade".

He claimed he had fallen but Digweed's security file "indicated that the incident was thought to be drug debt and gang related", the PPO said.

Digweed was last seen alive during a routine count of prisoners on the evening of 12 April 2024.

His observation panel was covered during the early morning routine roll check the following day and was still covered at a welfare check at 09:07 BST.

The staff responsible for checking him took no action, the ombudsman said.

At about 11:30 an officer unlocked Digweed's cell but did not look inside.

Shortly afterwards, he was found hanged.

The day after his death, officers received intelligence from prisoners that Digweed was "wanted" by organised crime gangs outside the prison and was worried about debts, it said.

On a mobile phone found in his cell, Digweed and his partner had exchanged a number of text messages arguing about their relationship, where Digweed said he was "sick of" things and said that he "could not be bothered any more".

In his summary, ombudsman Adrian Usher said he did not find any evidence that Digweed was at heightened or imminent risk of suicide when he died, but "information received after he died suggested his sentence was putting his relationship under strain and he might have been worried about money".

He said he was "concerned" there was a widespread issue at Garth with prisoners blocking their observation panels and that staff did not always follow local guidance when completing routine checks and welfare checks.

He acknowledged the prison "has taken some steps to address this".

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