An inmate at Strangeways prison tragically ended his own life after sharing with his family that he was only allowed out of his cell for 90 minutes daily, according to a recent report. Lee Gorst, aged 35, was discovered hanged in his cell at HMP Manchester on April 25, 2023. He had been serving a sentence of 13 years and four months for attempted murder and false imprisonment since 2013. Despite being released on parole in January 2020, he was recalled to prison in June 2021 for charges including robbery, unlawful wounding, and making threats to kill.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman released a report detailing Gorst’s criticism of Strangeways, where he described it as ‘a dump’ and alleged that knives were being smuggled in via drones nightly. He further claimed that prison staff frequently forgot to allow him out of his cell for meals and was shocked by the high levels of violence within the prison.

Following an inquest, a coroner ruled Gorst’s death as suicide. The report highlighted that the prison was operating a limited regime due to staffing issues, resulting in inmates like Gorst spending extended periods alone in their cells. It was noted that Gorst expressed feeling ‘locked in his cell alone for twenty two-and-a-half hours a day, with every minute of his life controlled’ in a letter discovered posthumously.

Subsequent investigations by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman revealed that prisoners were only being let out of their cells for about two hours per day during that period. In October 2024, an inspection by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, prompted an urgent notification to the Secretary of State for Justice due to the deteriorating conditions at the prison.

The report indicated that Strangeways was deemed ‘squalid’ and ‘the most violent in the UK’, with organized crime groups and drug trafficking significantly impacting prison life. Mr. Taylor emphasized that the prison was fundamentally unsafe for both inmates and staff, leading to the issuance of an ‘Urgent Notification’.

Concerns raised by HM Inspectorate of Prisons mirrored those expressed by Gorst before his death in conversations with his partner. The report detailed Gorst’s struggles with his lengthy sentence and dissatisfaction with the prison environment, where he felt isolated and unsupported.

Gorst’s body was discovered after an officer arrived to escort him for afternoon activities. The delayed response in medical assistance was noted, with a 14-minute wait for security checks before paramedics could enter the prison. Gorst’s death marked the 16th at HMP Manchester since April 2020.

Days leading up to his suicide, Gorst confided in his partner about his despair, citing the prison’s dire conditions and his emotional distress. His concerns about the lack of time out of his cell, drone-delivered knives, and the challenges of his sentence were highlighted in the report.

Gorst had marked his calendar with ‘my last day’ three days before his death and penned a letter to his family, referring to it as his suicide note. The document captured his despair over the realization of his life sentence and the absence of a release date. He also expressed shock over a knife incident involving fellow prisoners shortly before his death.

A Prison Service spokesperson acknowledged improvements in prisoner time out of cells at HMP Manchester post-Gorst’s death due to increased staffing levels. For those in need of emotional support, the Samaritans helpline was recommended for assistance.