A man was found hanged in a cell at HMP Altcourse while he awaited sentencing over firearms charges.
Ashley Dougan, 32, was found in his cell on the Valentine's Green Wing of HMP Altcourse at around 8.20am on September 2, 2021. He was taken to Aintree University Hospital, where he died at 8.40pm the following day, having suffered a severe brain injury and cardiac arrest.
An inquest held at the Gerard Majella Court in Liverpool last week found that Mr Dougan had been worried about the possible length of his sentence following his arrest, and wanted to be moved to a facility closer to home.
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Mr Dougan was arrested on June 22 2021 following a police chase on the M62. He was stopped in Cheshire between Junction 10 (Croft Interchange) and Junction 11 (Birchwood) at around 9pm, and was searched by officers, who discovered a firearm.
He was taken into police custody, and later charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm without a certificate, possession of ammunition, receiving stolen goods, driving without insurance and driving without a licence. He appeared in court on June 23, and was awaiting a further hearing.
His week-long inquest found he died as a result of a "self-applied ligature", with a jury handing down a narrative conclusion.
Summing up the case, coroner Anita Bhardwaj said: "Ashley Darren Dougan was a 32-year-old gentleman who was remanded in custody to HMP Altcourse on 23 June 2021. On the morning of 2 September 2021 at approximately 8.20am Mr Dougan was found hanging in his cell... He was conveyed to Aintree University Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 8.40pm on 3 September 2021.
"Mr Dougan died of a self-applied ligature contributed to by the national lockdown measures, wanting to be moved nearer home and concern over the possible length of his sentence."
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