Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

intended to protect Sonny from self-harm and in particular whether a new plan ought to
have been opened in what proved to be the final week of Sonny’s life.
1.16 Sonny began work in the upholstery workshop but on 24 July he was sacked and
charged with endangering health and safety by firing staples from a compressed air gun.
At the adjudication, a governor imposed seven added days suspended for one month,
seven days stoppage of 100% of earnings and seven days stoppage of all privileges.
Losing his job and the temporary loss of privileges significantly altered Sonny’s access to
occupation and resources for the remainder of his sentence. It also prompted the first of
several wing moves.
1.17 Sonny said repeatedly in letters and sometimes in person that he believed he
was being victimised by prison staff in reprisal for the alleged assault at Whiston
Hospital. I have quoted from his letters in the report. There is no evidence that prison
staff knew the content of these letters when Sonny Lodge was in prison. The inquiry
examined Sonny’s belief he was being victimised, his various wing moves and the
regimes on the wings. The clinical adviser to the inquiry has advised on the implications
for Sonny’s mental health of his belief that he was being victimised.
1.18 In particular, the inquiry examined the operation of a system of informal sanctions
imposed by wing officers, without due process, for alleged misbehaviour. The usual
sanction was for a prisoner to be locked up for the evening association period when he
would otherwise be able to mix with other prisoners, make telephone calls and take a
shower. The system was criticised by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. Sonny was locked
up for the evening a number of times.
1.19 On Monday 24 August, Sonny was taken to Huyton police station where he was
interviewed and charged for the alleged assault on a prison officer at Whiston Hospital.
The legal executive who attended the interview says that the police came for him at
Sonny’s instigation because he wanted to get the charge sorted out before he was
released. Forms completed by police and prison officers transferring custody of Sonny
recorded that he had attempted suicide and might have suicidal tendencies.
1.20 Sonny told his girlfriend he expected to get bail but on Tuesday 25 August his
solicitor told her that the police and the magistrates had refused bail and Sonny was a bit
down. Sonny’s girlfriend was alarmed and telephoned the prison to say she was worried
that Sonny might self-harm, having done so before. A message was passed to reception
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