Neglect Contributed to Death of Alex Davies, 25, in Cheshire Prison on Christmas Eve
A jury found that neglect played a contributing factor in the death of 25-year-old Alex Davies, who was found deceased in her segregation cell at Styal prison in Cheshire on Christmas Eve last year. Davies’s case highlights systemic failures in mental health care within the UK prison system and raises serious questions about the treatment of vulnerable inmates.
Alex Davies was admitted to styal prison following a guilty plea to charges including criminal damage and possession of a knife,offenses committed during a severe mental health crisis. Prior to sentencing, four psychiatrists recommended a hospital order, believing it to be the most appropriate course of care. Had the transfer to a hospital setting been completed within the recommended 28-day timeframe, Davies would have been moved from Styal by December 23rd.
Davies had been diagnosed with severe borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from childhood sexual abuse, a trauma that profoundly impacted her life. According to her mother, Stacie Davies, “From that day, for the rest of Alex’s life, she was very unwell.” Despite her struggles, Davies was remembered as a kind, generous, and funny individual, deeply loved by her family and community in Liverpool. At her funeral, “We had to open the back doors to let everyone in, 13 cars followed the hearse, I was overwhelmed, I couldn’t believe it,” Stacie Davies recounted.
Beyond her mental health challenges, Davies was a gifted footballer, excelling as a left back. Her father, Alan Gerrard, described her talent, stating, “She was the best left back I’ve ever seen for a girl, Little Bainsey I used to call her,” referencing former Everton player Leighton Baines. Teams like Manchester City and Everton had shown interest in her abilities, but her deteriorating mental health ultimately led her to abandon the sport. “She started to then misbehave in the football and it came to a place where she said, I don’t want to do it any more, Dad.”
As a teenager, Davies began self-medicating with cannabis and continued to grapple with the unresolved trauma of her abuse, compounded by the fact that the perpetrator had not been brought to justice.This led to increasingly volatile behavior, including damaging property and posing a risk to her siblings. She spent time in care, which her mother described as a deeply painful experience of “rejection, abandonment,” leading her to “just whent right off the rails.” From the age of 14, Davies cycled in and out of mental health hospitals and was prescribed clozapine, an antipsychotic medication, but was later taken off the drug in May of last year due to an abnormal ECG.
Following a sexual assault reported in August, Davies’s mental health rapidly declined. She was arrested in October after making threats against her psychiatrist and possessing a knife. Upon arrival at Styal prison, she was placed on the care and separation unit (CSU) – a form of segregation – for 27 days. This placement was notably concerning given Davies’s history of suicide attempts and self-harm, as national guidelines advise against placing at-risk prisoners in CSU unless under exceptional circumstances.
The inquest heard evidence of significant delays in accessing mental health support and concerns about the adequacy of observations while Davies was in segregation. The jury concluded that a failure to secure appropriate medical care, a lack of adequate observation, and failures in care planning all contributed to her death. The case has prompted calls for significant changes to ensure adequate support for female prisoners.
A Prison Service spokesperson expressed condolences to Davies’s family and stated that the prison had taken immediate actions following her death, and would implement recommendations from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. A Mersey Care NHS foundation trust spokesperson acknowledged the tragedy and affirmed their commitment to ongoing review and improvement of care standards.
Resources are available for those struggling with mental health challenges. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or at [email protected] mental health charity Mind can be reached at 0300 123 3393 or mind.org.uk. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 988, or via chat at 988lifeline.org, or by texting HOME to 741741. In Australia, Lifeline can be reached at 13 11 14, and international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
