Concern over ex-inmate's death days after release

7 hours ago

Lewis Adams

News image — Paul Thompson spent three-and-a-half months at HMP Norwich before his release

Martin Barber/BBC The large brown entrance door to HMP Norwich, which is in the middle of tall and wide brick walls. Branches of a leafy tree appear in the foreground of the image. — Paul Thompson spent three-and-a-half months at HMP Norwich before his release

A prisoner who reported having suicidal thoughts took his own life after being released without access to a mental health team, a coroner said.

Paul Thompson died at Elmswell railway station in Suffolk on 15 July 2024, four days after he was discharged from HMP Norwich.

Area coroner Darren Stewart said there were "inadequate arrangements" for the 53-year-old's release, in a Prevention of Future Deaths report.

The Ministry of Justice said all prison staff received suicide, self-harm prevention and mental health awareness training.

Thompson, from Durham, suffered with functional neurological disorder and had lost his job as a result, according to the report.

It led to him developing anxiety, depression and alcohol dependency.

An information board with three separate notices at Elmswell railway station. The platform and railway tracks are behind it. — Thompson took his life at Elmswell railway station at 17:39 BST on 15 July 2025

He was remanded in custody at HMP Norwich between 27 March and 11 July 2024, where he had expressed suicidal ideation, Stewart wrote.

The coroner said one of the suggestions Thompson made to prison staff was that he would take his life at a railway station.

Thompson was released at 19:20 BST but, due to the time, was not seen by the prison's mental health team.

"[They] were only made aware of the fact that he had been released when it was mentioned the following day during a general staff briefing," Stewart said.

Thompson presented to the Probation Service in Durham on 12 July and again reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, but staff were not aware of who he was, the report said.

On 15 July, he purchased a train ticket from Durham to Stowmarket and was seen at Elmswell railway station at 17:29.

Thompson was then observed taking his own life 10 minutes later. An inquest into his death was held in December 2025.

Stewart said while the circumstances around Thompson's release did not make "a material contribution to his death", the inquest had revealed "shortcomings" at HMP Norwich.

The inquest indicated there were "inadequate arrangements" at the prison for providing mental health care to inmates released out of hours, he added.

The coroner also highlighted concern about the prisons failure to inform the Probation Service of Thompson's release.

He sent his report to Lord Timpson, the Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Offending, and said he must respond by 3 April.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said a "risk identification toolkit" had been developed nationally to help staff assess and manage risks effectively.