Dad whose family say was 'bullied' by other prisoners at Strangeways was found hanging in his cell - he died the day he was granted bail

A dad whose family claims was 'bullied' by other prisoners at Strangeways was found hanging in his cell.

Jamal Hussein, 32, ended up behind bars at HMP Manchester after being charged with assault.

He was placed on remand at the prison back in September 2016 after admitting battering his father with a broom handle.

The father-of-one, from Hulme, had previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had spent periods in hospital under Mental Health Act.

Somalia-born Jamal was targeted by other inmates, his loved ones claim.

They believe Jamal, a Muslim, had been pressured into keeping contraband alcohol - known as hooch - in his cell for other prisoners.

When his brothers and sisters visited him in prison at the end of August, they found he had been 'badly beaten' and claimed he had been attacked by fellow inmates.

His family quickly made calls to his solicitor, social worker and prison bosses explaining that they believed he was at risk.

On Friday September 2, 2016, Jamal's family say a prison staff member called to assure them he was okay.

Around two hours later, they say they were told he had been rushed to hospital after he was found hanging in his cell.

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He died 11 days later - the same day he was granted bail.

Prison bosses say they have made 'significant improvements' in how vulnerable prisoners are supported in the three years since Jamal’s death.

An inquest into his death last week found he died as a result of misadventure.

An inquest heard he was found with a ligature in his cell at HMP Manchester on September 2, 2016.

He died on 13 September in hospital.

Jamal's devastated family told the Manchester Evening News he was a family man who had never spent time in prison before.

They say he was vulnerable because of his history of mental ill health.

He had planned to visit his wife and 10-year-old daughter in Somalia just before he was jailed.

Jamal’s sister, who asked not to be named, said the little girl has suffered the most since his death.

“It’s really been very awful for his daughter,” she said.

“He was planning to visit her. She just can’t believe that she’s lost her dad.

“One day she is waiting to see him and the next thing she’s told her dad is not going to make it.”

Jamal had ambitions to work in the construction industry and was hoping to move his wife and daughter to Manchester, his sister said.

A keen footballer, he had previously done volunteer work, but suffered with his mental health, his sister added.

“He was a very kind person, very friendly and well known in Hulme and Moss Side,” she said.

“He made friends very easily.

“He was a very lovely person and smiley. He was helpful at home and if someone was sick he would always be there to support them. We feel really empty at home without him.”

Jamal appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on August 15, 2016.

Prosecutors alleged he used a paving stone to break down a front window of his father’s home on Criccieth Street, Moss Side, at 3.30am on Tuesday, July 12.

He was said to have used a broom handle to hit his father on the arm, wrist, back and head. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment for cuts, bruises and swelling.

Jamal was remanded into custody at HMP Manchester in July 2016.

Though he did not initially report any problems to his brothers and sisters, they later visited him and found that he had been 'badly beaten'.

He told them he had been attacked by fellow inmates, his loved ones say.

“There were bruises all over his face,” his sister said.

“He had been badly beaten. He was very upset and very low. We were very concerned.

“We started asking ‘how did this happen’. We were so upset.”

Jamal was assaulted by fellow inmates on either August 30 or 31 after prison guards found contraband in his cell, his family says.

They say he claimed two prisoners were pressuring him to conceal the contraband.

Jamal had refused to report the assault to officers, lawyers acting for the family said.

Prison officials say staff were first informed by the family that Jamal was being bullied only '15 minutes before' he was found hanging in his cell.

He fell into a coma and was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he died 11 days later.

A Prison and Probation Ombudsman report, published this week, found that there were a number of 'missed opportunities' to help Jamal following the alleged assault.

He had a history of self-harm, by cutting, but a community psychiatric nurse (CPN) who assessed did not identify any immediate concerns or an increase in his risk.

The report states that prison officers found 'two containers of homemade alcohol' in Jamal's cell on August 28 and he also handed over an 'improvised bladed weapon'.

Jamal denied the items were his but refused to tell guards who they belonged to, the PPO report states.

"He did not tell staff he was being bullied," it adds.

"However, on September 1, a prisoner told an officer that another prisoner had assaulted Mr Hussein because staff had discovered the contraband items in his cell.

"The officer did not speak to Mr Hussein, or record this information in prison records."

He later told a community support worker he had been 'punched' but would not say any more and was not assessed as being at increased harm of suicide or self-harm.

Ombudsman Nigel Newcomen CBE found that 'staff failed to give sufficient weight to Mr Hussein’s level of risk when he arrived at Manchester on July 14 and, in the circumstances, we believe staff should have fully considered starting ACCT procedures.

"While Mr Hussein gave no direct indication to staff or other prisoners that he had thoughts of suicide or self-harm, staff were too reliant on his presentation in making an assessment," the report added.

He added that Jamal 'did not receive the support from staff he could have expected' as he was never allocated a personal officer and there were several 'missed opportunities' to help him following the alleged assault.

Mr Newcomen reports: "His family raised their concerns about bullying through various channels.

"Another prisoner made an officer aware that Mr Hussein had been bullied the day before he was discovered hanged in his cell.

"On the day Mr Hussein was found, the officer spoke to him and despite seeing a bruise on his face did not investigate further or begin violence reduction measures.

"The CPN also spoke to Mr Hussein a few hours before he was discovered and, although he told her that somebody had punched him in the face, she did not inform prison staff."

Family members say they had begged for Jamal to be moved out of Strangeways.

In a statement released after the inquest they said: “As a family we still miss him dearly and we still grieve for his loss.

“However, his young daughter is most impacted by his death as she is very far away from the rest of the family.”

Their solicitor Kelly Darlington, of Farley’s, described Jamal as 'vulnerable' and says he was struggling with his mental health.

“It is nearly three years since Jamal's death and the family fought at every stage of the inquest process to find out the answers to the many questions they had surrounding Jamal’s death," she added.

"It is hoped that now the inquest has concluded, they can grieve for him properly.”

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is investigating the case and a report into Jamal’s death is expected to be published soon.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: “It is a tragedy whenever anyone takes their own life in prison and our thoughts remain with Jamal’s family.

“The coroner found the prison was not negligent in its care but also recognised that, nonetheless, there have been significant improvements to how vulnerable prisoners are supported at HMP Manchester in the three years since Jamal’s death.”