Inmate, 18, ‘happy’ weeks after being identified as suicide risk, inquest told
A teenage inmate found hanging in her cell was “happy and bubbly” weeks after she was identified as at risk of suicide or self-harm, an inquest jury has heard.
Annelise Sanderson, 18, was sentenced in June 2020 to 52 weeks in custody after she assaulted a paramedic who went to her aid when she tried to set herself on fire at a petrol station.
Six months later, on December 22, she was pronounced dead at HMP Styal just weeks before she was due to be released.
Cheshire Coroner’s Court was told a safety plan known as an ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork), was opened for Miss Sanderson on June 29 when she was deemed at risk of suicide and self-harm.
Giving evidence on Tuesday, nurse Victoria Corris, clinical lead for the mental health team at the prison, said Miss Sanderson presented as “chaotic” on her arrival to Styal on June 26 – at a time when Covid-19 restrictions were in place.
She said the inmate was semi-naked and had to be assessed through the cell hatch.
Ms Corris said: “It was difficult to get an assessment at that time. It probably lasted about five minutes.
“I didn’t have any immediate concerns that she would harm herself at that time.”
She said she understood that Miss Sanderson was placed on an ACCT because she was not complying with a detox programme and was displaying “erratic behaviour”.
The ACCT records showed she had a history of self-harm, had an existing wound on her abdomen and had tried to set alight a wardrobe in custody, the hearing in Warrington was told.
She was also seen with a loose ligature which she explained was to prevent her self-harming.
Ms Corris told the court: “I have seen quite a lot of people using this as a safety net.”
She said Miss Sanderson had moved from the segregation unit to the prison wing by the time a multi-disciplinary team decided to close the ACCT on July 8, which she said were not uncommon.
Ms Corris said the prisoner was still under hourly observations though because of the ongoing Covid restrictions.
The jury heard she was unaware that two days earlier Miss Sanderson had been noted as attempting to jump over the prison balcony.
Area coroner Victoria Davies asked her: “Would you have expected to have been made aware?”
Ms Corris replied: “Possibly, because she was presenting as quite complex at the time.”
The first time Ms Corris was able to assess Miss Sanderson properly face-to-face was on August 12, she said.
She said: “I remember Annalise sitting with us in the back office. She engaged very, very well. She was very relaxed.
“She spoke of goals she wanted to achieve when she was released. She spoke about her past history and going into care from a young age.”
Asked why she thought she had appeared to have settled, Ms Corris replied: “I think she had detoxed off alcohol. Coming into an adult establishment she was challenging and she would push boundaries as far as she could.
“She built up some really good relationships with staff on the wing and possibly started to trust people.”
Miss Sanderson moved to a dormitory in September and was discharged from the mental health team on December 17 – weeks before her due release date.
Ms Corris said she had “no concerns whatsoever” over Miss Sanderson’s risk of self harm and said she was “very shocked” at the inmate’s death.
Julie Crabtree, a prison officer with 28 years’ experience, said she saw Miss Sanderson in late June when she said she presented as “very bizarre”.
She said: “I remember her talking about having someone in her cell with her and she had her thrown out of the window because she was annoying her.
“She also made inappropriate sexual comments. It felt like Annelise was saying things to shock us.
“I asked her if she had any thoughts of self harm and she said ‘no’.”
Asked how Miss Sanderson presented following a further review on July 20, Ms Crabtree said: “She was certainly happy and bubbly, and said everything was fine. She had got accustomed to being on the wing”
She said she continued to be “very bubbly” in subsequent reviews and was “laughing and joking”.
Miss Sanderson was initially due to be released on Christmas Eve but had four weeks added to her sentence for an additional matter.
Probation officer Rebecca Murphy told the court that Miss Sanderson said she was “not bothered” about the delay.
She said: “I was quite surprised. I thought that she would be angry.”
The inquest continues.
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