A prisoner who received a controversial custodial sentence took his own life a decade later according to a watchdog.

John Winchcole was discovered dead in a cell at HMP Forest Bank in Pendlebury, Salford, on September 10, 2018.

Around 10 years earlier Mr Winchcole, then of Portland Road, Stretford, received a controversial custodial sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP), which saw an offender sent to prison for an indeterminate period of time until a Parole Board said the offender was fit for release. 

On release they were subject to supervision for at least a 10-year period in which there was a possibility of recall if they were suspected of other offences, which is what had happened to the 36-year-old on May 26, 2018, according to a report by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO).

The report said: "Mr Winchcole was serving an indeterminate sentence and, therefore, he had no indication of how long he would be in prison. 

"Prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence can face additional stress and uncertainty and this might have played some part in his decision to take his own life although there is no specific evidence to suggest that this was the case for Mr Winchcole."

Messenger Newspapers: Jailed. John Winchcole.

The PPO said Mr Winchcole received support at HMP Forest Bank as he told the prison staff of an intention to take his own life. It said the support was appropriate up until it was removed, also appropriately, as he showed signs of improvement.

However the ombudsman said there were issues like the possibility Mr Winchcole was taking psychoactive substances (PS).

The report said: "No drugs or drug paraphernalia were discovered by prison staff who cleared Mr Winchcole's cell. However, post-mortem toxicology tests showed the presence of PS and tramadol (which had not been prescribed) in Mr Winchcole's system. 

"We cannot rule out the possibility this affected his mood and might have played some part in his decision to take his own life."

IPP sentences were abolished in 2012 but, as of last year, 2,852 of those to receive them remained within the prison system. 

The government has reviewed these sentences but up until now it has resisted calls for those to receive them to be resentenced on the basis their potential release would be a potential risk to public protection.

An HMP Forest Bank spokesperson said: "Our condolences remain with Mr Winchcole’s family. 

"Following the close of the inquest, we will review the jury’s conclusions with care and continue to build on progress made.”

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.