A drug dealer serving a 25-year prison sentence was said to have made £500,000 every two months by supplying to fellow inmates before he was found dead in his cell. Johnpaul Digweed, 36, apparently continued his life of crime behind bars as the EncroChat dealer went on to make thousands from his cell making "drone deliveries" of drugs.
The father was already serving a 25-year prison sentence for supplying vast amounts of cocaine and heroin using the platform. He was found to have taken his life in his cell at HMP Garth, Lancashire, in April 2024.
Ombudsman findings
A public report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), which investigates all deaths in custody, found there was not evidence the 36-year-old dad had been at a heightened or imminent risk of suicide when he died. But ombudsman Adrian Usher identified concerns regarding staff not following guidance when completing welfare checks, although said he could not be sure this would have changed the outcome in Digweed's case.
The ombudsman said there was information that Digweed might have been worried about money at the time of his death. He said it was highly likely the class A dealer continued his life of crime behind bars, adding "there was significant evidence that [Digweed] was involved in prison drug culture and he was found in possession of a mobile phone numerous times".
Drone deliveries and pressure
Digweed, who was initially remanded at HMP Liverpool and later spent time in Forest Bank and Leeds, was transferred to Garth, in Lancashire, in June 2022. The ombudsman said "throughout his time in Garth, the prison received significant intelligence that he was involved in organising drone deliveries of drugs and other illicit items and on six occasions he was found with a mobile phone in his possession".
Intelligence from the prison's security team indicated Digweed, who used the EncroChat handle "Diorpaw", was "involved in organising drone deliveries to the prison of contraband including mobile phones". Further intelligence also found he had "threatened other prisoners". Mr Usher said in February 2024 "an intelligence report showed that certain prisoners on C Wing, including Mr Digweed, were making about £400,000 to £500,000 every couple of months from the proceeds of contraband sent into the prison by drone".
However, the intelligence also showed Digweed was under pressure from other people inside the prison. In November 2023, CCTV showed four prisoners entering his cell and later he was found with slash injuries. He claimed he had fallen over but his security file indicated the incident was thought to be drug debt and gang related. A prison officer said the prisoners suspected of assaulting Digweed were associates of a fellow con thought to be in debt to the dealer.
Final days and missed opportunities
A prisoner who lived in the cell next to Digweed said the dealer "enjoyed taking cocaine in prison and could get hold of it relatively easily". He added he did not think Digweed was in debt or under pressure because he was "in the right circle".
The investigators found Digweed's only prison record reference to suicidal thoughts was when he was on remand. However, in September 2023 while on cocaine he had harmed himself by making superficial cuts to his chest. The ombudsman found there was no evidence that the prison had started suicide and self-harm support procedures, known as ACCT.
Prisoners at Garth are allowed a prison laptop, but staff removed Digweed's just days after he injured himself because of damage to the screen. Digweed had not received a replacement laptop by the time of his death, which meant he had less control over ordering items from the prison shop, adding credit to his telephone account and choosing meals.
Recordings of Digweed's prison calls in the days before his death appeared to show his relationship with his partner was under strain. However, in calls to a female relative he sounded "in a good mood" and joked he had "a few years left in me".
The ombudsman report said the last time he spoke to his partner was on April 12 when he called her drunk and she asked him to call back when he had sobered up. She said he had not given an indication that he was feeling low or suicidal.
Digweed was last seen alive during a routine count of prisoners at 7.39pm on April 12. At 5.17am the following day, his observation panel was covered and again at 9.07am at a welfare check. The staff responsible took no action. At around 11.30am, an officer unlocked the cell but did not look inside. Digweed was found dead by a prisoner.
The ombudsman's report said that on the same day as his death, the prison received intelligence from inmates that Digweed was "wanted" by organised crime gangs outside the prison and was worried about debts. In text messages to his partner he referred to being "sick of" things.
The ombudsman found that there was a missed opportunity to identify Digweed's risk following the incident in September 2023. Mr Usher said that the prison had also "dealt with individuals" involved in the roll and welfare checks but he was concerned there was a "more widespread problem with how staff respond to finding covered observation panels" which meant checks were not being done correctly.
Recommendations and background
The clinical reviewer concluded the healthcare Digweed received for his physical health was equivalent to what he would receive in the community. However, she also concluded his mental healthcare was moderate and that he was not received after harming himself in September 2023.
The PPO made a number of recommendations including that the governor should show how the prison will challenge blocked observation panels to comply with local processes and put in place an assurance process to satisfy himself that all staff look through the observation panel before unlocking cells. The Prison Service previously confirmed it would cooperate in full with the PPO investigation.
Digweed had denied being the user of the "Diorpaw" handle but Liverpool Crown Court heard messages about his kids helped identify him. These messages included what sort of birthday parties he was planning for them. Digweed mainly appeared to trade drugs to dealers in Devon and Cornwall, though other locations across Britain were mentioned in his messages to criminals. In his messages to other dealers, Digweed made clear his focus was on "swilling", or diluting drugs, in order to increase his profit. He also sent other messages allowing them to be sure of his identity. One image sent to him by another criminal showed a block of cannabis labelled "Johnny Weed". His response was: "Hahahaha lad who's done that, its only missing dig out the name. My name is Johnny Digweed init."
Digweed, previously of Harlech Road in Crosby, was arrested in March 2021 and convicted of seven counts of conspiracy to supply drugs in addition to one count of money laundering. Prosecutors said he could be connected to the supply of at least 30 kilos of cocaine and 12 and a half kilos of heroin. Judge David Swinnerton said Digweed was a "proud dad" who behaved in a "close, loving and supportive" way towards his family while blighting communities across the UK with drugs.
