Clive Cocking, a Blackburn man who attempted to murder a 12-year-old boy, took his own life after being recalled to prison. An inquest into his death, concluded on September 21 this year, recorded a verdict of suicide by hanging.
Background and sentencing
In 2011, Cocking was given an indefinite jail sentence for public protection (IPP) with a minimum term of seven years after being found guilty of attempted murder of a 12-year-old boy. He was also given five years to run concurrently for an offence of child cruelty, wilfully assaulting a child under 16.
IPP sentences were introduced in 2005 to protect the public against offenders whose crimes were not serious enough to merit a normal life sentence. Offenders could only be released once they had demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Parole Board that they had sufficiently reduced their risk and had served their minimum tariff. The sentences were abolished in 2012.
Recall and death
Cocking spent time at HMP Preston, HMP Leicester and HMP Rye Hill before being transferred to HMP Grendon in December 2012. He remained there until he was released on licence on August 27, 2024. His licence conditions required him to reside at Bradshaw House Approved Premises, but he failed to return and breached his licence conditions, leading to his recall to prison on September 1.
A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report, released this month, revealed that Cocking was initially taken to HMP Preston before being transferred to Wymott Prison near Leyland on October 2, 2024.
Ombudsman findings
The ombudsman said: "Cocking had a history of mental health issues, self-harm and suicidal ideation. He had only been released from prison for a week when he lapsed into drinking and attempted to take his own life. Members of the public found him collapsed and Mr Cocking was taken to A&E before being returned to prison."
On the day after Cocking arrived at Preston, staff began suicide and self-harm prevention procedures (known as ACCT), which were closed at Wymott on October 16. Cocking was encouraged to engage with the regime following the closure of ACCT procedures.
"On 21 October, his cellmate transferred to another prison. At around 2.07pm on 22 October, an officer unlocked Mr Cocking's cell and discovered him hanged from the bedframe. Staff started CPR and paramedics continued resuscitation efforts. However, at 2.33pm paramedics confirmed life extinct," the ombudsman said.
Noting that there were 'clear indicators of heightened risk', the ombudsman said staff at HMP Preston did not initially start ACCT procedures following Cocking's arrival. According to the ombudsman, when staff did start ACCT procedures, 'they were poorly managed, and some key aspects of national instructions were not followed'.
Wymott inspection and staffing concerns
In its most recent inspection, conducted in December 2023, it was found that Wymott's ACCT documentation was 'reasonable'. The ombudsman's report stated that 'less than half (42%) of prisoners who had been on an ACCT felt well cared for and those prisoners who inspectors spoke to were also very mixed in their views about the quality of care provided'.
Wymott's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said in May 2024: "The rate of absences among uniformed staff remained one of the highest in the region, putting a strain on the prison's ability to maintain a decent regime."
