INMATE DIES IN VISITING ROOM Tragedy after fight over tobacco seen by families
A PRISONER desperate for tobacco has died in a horrific fight in a jail’s visiting room.
Serial burglar Kevin Lovatt, 41, was seen trying to grab the tobacco when the fatal fracas broke out on Friday.
A source said: “It was horrific. There were kids and families in the visiting room. Tobacco is now banned in the jail but he just wanted a little Christmas treat inside his cell.
“This shows people will do anything to get tobacco into jails. It’s tragic.” Serco, the private firm that runs Category B HMP Dovegate near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, is investigating g the death.
In April Lovatt was jailed d for nearly four years after being convicted nvicted at Stoke-on-Trent crown court urt for a series of thefts, including stealing £1,000 of Royal Doulton figurines gurines from an 89-year-old’s home. e.
Friends paid tribute to him on social media. One said: “My My heart goes out to all of the family. .I I love you all to bits. RIP Kev. v. Going to be missed a lot ot mate.” John Hewitson, Serco director at Dovegate said: “Sadly, despite the best efforts of our staff, a prisoner died on Friday. As with any death at a prison there’ll there’l be a coroner’s inquest.” The death comes amid heightened fears that a phased smoking ban being rolled out across the UK would spark surges in violent viole attacks behind bars. Tory MP Andrew Griffiths, whose constituency covers Uttoxeter, U called for a “full and a thorough” investigation. He said: “Any death in custody is extremely serious. I trust the authorities will investigate this tragedy.”
A spokesman for the Howard League for Penal Reform said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy.”
Dovegate has around 850 inmates. At its last inspection in the summer it was criticised for its high levels of violence, self-harm and drug use.
It was praised for its help for offenders to quit substance abuse, good living conditions and respect shown by staff.