'He was a very loving person': Brothers pay tribute to County Durham man who took his life in prison
by David Huntley · ChronicleLiveThe brothers of a man who tragically took his life in prison have described him as a "loving person" after safeguarding issues were raised after his death.
Gary Bell was serving a prison sentence at HMP Holme House in County Durham when he was found unresponsive in his cell on Christmas Day 2019. The 44-year-old was rushed to hospital, but died days later on December 28.
Gary had been sentenced to five and a half years for arson at the start of 2018 and was moved to HMP Holme House in February 2018. Less than two months before his death, Gary's leg was amputated due to recurrent leg infections.
An inquest into Gary's death found that he had struggled to cope with his recent leg amputation and killed himself amid a battle with his mental health. The inquest concluded that another contributing factor was the "failure to implement safeguarding measures".
The inquest heard that Gary, who was from Shotton Colliery, County Durham and worked as a mechanic, was found "unresponsive" in his prison cell on December 25 2019 and was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees. On December 28, he sadly died as a result of brain injuries brought about by hanging.
Due to failures to implement available safeguarding measures in the prison, Gary's family instructed solicitor Helen Clifford, who lodged a personal injury claim to the Ministry of Justice and G4S - the company which operated the primary healthcare at the prison. And as his family proceed with the claim, his brother, James, 47, paid tribute to his sibling and explained how Gary's issues began in his teenage years following the breakdown of a relationship.
"He never touched a drop [of alcohol] until he was 18 years old", James told ChronicleLive. "When it came to things like motorbikes and cars he was very clever, really good.
"He was a big, strapping lad, he could look after himself. But when [his relationship ended], I believe that was his downward spiral and we just couldn't get him back after that. But still, he was no harm to anybody, apart from himself. He was his own worst enemy and he hurt himself with drugs.
"But killing himself, I was shocked, because he was a tough lad and I never expected he would do that. But listening to the circumstances [leading up to his death] who could have blamed him?"
Gary's mental health took a nose-dive in prison when his right leg was amputated above the knee. James said: "The way he [injured his leg] was ridiculous to be fair. Around 15 years ago he was fixing a rabbit hutch for our youngest brother. He jumped off the top and his shin bone went through his knee and hit his thigh bone.
"He had a lot of problems with it over the years, but because of his drug use, he never went to get it seen to or properly treated. His leg had fused in a bent position, so he suffered infection after infection."
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The NHS Choices website lists the following helplines and support networks for people to talk to.
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- If U Care Share is a suicide prevention and postvention support charity. For free confidential text support text IUCS to 85258.
- James' Place provide free, life-saving treatment for suicidal men, and those identifying as male, in the North East. Men can refer themselves or be referred by a professional including those working in health and community services, or by a friend or family member.
Gary was the eldest of four brothers, leaving behind James, Colin, 45, and Lee, 41. But despite his battles with addiction, James said he remained a caring person. He added: "He was always into anything and had a lot of issues. But he was never any harm to any of us, he was a very loving person.
"If anybody ever needed him, he would do anything for anybody. He was that type of person."
Since Gary's suicide, a number of changes have been implemented in HMP Holme House. A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Our sympathies remain with the friends and family of Gary Bell. Since Mr Bell’s passing HMP Holme House has introduced new observation and monitoring procedures to ensure staff are better able to support prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm.”
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