FAI finds prisoner had lethal cocktail of drugs in system

Prison officer Adam Allison said Mr Jackson had verbally responded to him at 8am on the morning of his death. Expert medical witnesses said that based on the results of the post mortem examination, it was likely he had died at some time between 8am and 9am and “it was unlikely that he would have been able to speak at 8am”.

Sheriff Foulis said: “I simply do not accept the evidence from officers Adam Allison and Douglas Ferguson that at 8am on September 28 they obtained a verbal response from Mr Jackson. In addition, officer Ferguson completed an observation sheet indicating that he had checked on the prisoner at 9am. This clearly was not the case.”

However, the sheriff said there was no evidence led before the inquiry that any interventions of whatever nature would have saved Mr Jackson’s life.

The post mortem examination found a wrap of 0.42g of cannabis resin in Mr Jackson’s rectum. Two wraps containing buprenorphine were also recovered from his cell.

A Scottish Prison Service spokeswoman said: “The SPS conducts a review of all deaths in custody to ensure that any lessons are learned promptly and any actions that require to be taken are taken. This case also highlights the tragic consequences of the use of illicitly introduced drugs into prisons. We would again wish to express our condolences to the family.”

Jason Jackson, who was found dead in his cell. Right: HMP Prison Perth.