Prisoner threatened 'shock act' before death
BBCAn inmate had threatened to "shock the prison" days before he was found dead in his cell, an inquest has heard.
Nigel John Keenan, known as John, was found with a ligature around his neck by prison staff at Haverigg in Millom, Cumbria, on 13 March 2025 - the day he was due to be released.
An inquest at Workington Coroner's Court heard prison staff had received intelligence on 4 March that 62-year-old Keenan had made a threat to "do something that week that would shock the prison".
Staff, including his prison offender manager Chloe Simpson, said they suspected he was planning to abscond and flee abroad.
Simpson said Keenan had claimed to have collapsed on the same day he was heard making the threat and he was taken to hospital.
"The thinking was that he was trying to orchestrate something so he could go to India," she said.
'Doubts over break-up'
Prison officer Brandon Spokes did not know Keenan but was asked to speak to him about his comments, the inquest heard.
"He was confused when I brought this up," he said.
"He said he'd never said those things."
Simpson, who was helping to arrange Keenan's release, said he had mentioned his desire to move to India when she was working to identify a suitable place for him to live.
She told him this would be unlikely due to his convictions for child sex offences.
The inquest heard Keenan had been sentenced to five and a half years in prison in June 2022 for offences including engaging in sexual activity with a child.
Initially Keenan had hoped to be able to move in with his partner but because she had a daughter extra steps would need to be taken to ensure she would be safe.
Keenan told Simpson this had prompted his partner to break up with him via a letter which he claimed to have destroyed.
"This was just after he was informed that the father of his partner's daughter would have to be informed of his offending," said Simpson.
"We wondered if this was a genuine break-up."
She said there was a suspicion he might have lied to prevent social services from becoming involved in his release.
'Self-harm thoughts'
Coroner Robert Cohen said one of the intelligence assessments referred to Keenan's "history of manipulative behaviour" and prison staff made the decision to start monitoring his calls.
The inquest heard in a call monitored by prison staff in February, Keenan had spoken of thoughts of harming himself.
He said he believed this was related to a new medication prescribed to him to manage nerve pain to his leg but he reassured the caller he had no intention of acting on his thoughts.
Simpson said she spoke to him as soon as she became aware of this, alongside custodial manager Jessica Parker.
"Immediately he started telling us he had no intention [to harm himself], that we shouldn't worry," she said.
"He believed the thoughts were due to his medication and he already had an appointment to change that."
Parker said she did not think it was necessary to open an Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) - a process that anyone who works in prison can trigger if they have concerns over a prisoners' intentions to harm themselves.
She described him as a "cheeky chappie" who was laid back and liked a joke.
"He was no different that day, he didn't come across as being low in mood," she said.
'Happy relationship ended'
The inquest heard it was decided Keenan would move in with his brother on his release.
The coroner asked Simpson if Keenan had expressed fears about paedophile hunter groups living in the area.
"We talked about how he might keep himself safe in that situation and he was quite content," Simpson said.
She said the press had not reported on his case when it had gone to court and his offending "wasn't common knowledge" which meant he felt safer.
Cohen asked if Simpson had checked on Keenan to see how he had taken the break-up, despite the suspicions he might be lying.
"He was very much of the view he was happy that the relationship had ended," she said.
"He said he had been thinking about it for a while because she was quite bossy sometimes."
Cohen said evidence from clinical staff had pointed to a "strained relationship" between Keenan and his offender manager Simpson.
Simpson said it was normal for prisoners to react when details of their release arrangements - such as exclusion zones and no-contact conditions - were being finalised.
"Especially where a prisoner maintains their innocence, they can see that as an attack on their character," she said.
"He did minimise his offending. He didn't believe he was a risk to children."
The inquest continues.
