Alex Davies, who suffered from severe borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, was found dead in her segregation cell.
The mother of a woman who died in prison described her daughter’s treatment as being like a “feral dog in a cage” after an 11-day inquest concluded. Alex Davies, who suffered from severe borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, was found dead in her segregation cell at HMP Styal in Cheshire on Christmas Eve last year.
The inquest at Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington determined that neglect had played a role in the death of the 25-year-old from Litherland. This finding, which is uncommon, is applied when there has been a serious failure to provide basic medical care.
At the time, Alex had been on remand for roughly two months, having pleaded guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage to property under £5,000, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Evidence presented to the jury indicated that psychiatrists had advised Alex should have been transferred to a mental health facility rather than remaining in prison.
She spent 27 days in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU), from 9 November to 6 December, separated from other inmates. According to national guidelines, prisoners at risk of suicide, as Alex was, should only be held in CSU under exceptional circumstances.
Alex had previously been discharged from the Integrated Mental Health Team’s (IMHT) following an assault on staff. It was heard during the inquest how concerns had been raised about some of the IMHT nurses’ interactions with Alex, with her discharge from the team being referenced in the possible reasoning behind the suicide.
On Christmas Eve last year, Alex had been on her way back to her cell when the inquest heard how a prison officer told her to “stop perving” when she tried to speak to another prisoner. Alex is then believed to have become upset, ran off and was, as a result, restrained before being taken to the CSU.
In footage shown to the inquest, Alex is heard repeatedly saying “she called me a perv”. She then screams “I don’t want to go to this hell cell” and asked staff not to take her there over Christmas.
While in the cell, Alex blocked the observation window with her mattress, with a male nurse admitting he incorrectly filled out a medical algorithm when questioned during the inquest. If correctly filled out, it would have raised a red flag about Alex being held in CSU.
After Alex was left alone in her cell, she attempted to self-harm and items of clothing and bedding were removed from Alex’s cell. Following several attempts at self-harm, Alex was wearing just a pair of boxer shorts while under observation of a male prison officer, the inquest heard.
Despite repeated attempts at ligature and self-harm, she was not put on constant watch. On five occasions, officers entered her cell to remove ligature material. The inquest also heard how prison staff reported unprofessional attitudes towards Alex by members of the mental health team on the day of her death.
Alex had been in and out of mental health hospitals since she was 14, and her mental health deteriorated after being taken off antipsychotic medication before she was arrested last year. The jury found that the “stop perving” comment probably contributed to the decline in Alex’s mental state, among other factors, and that the completion of the healthcare algorithm was inappropriate.
Overall, the jury concluded that there was a gross failure to place Alex on constant observations while on the CSU and as such her death was contributed to by neglect.
Alex’s cause of death was hanging, with a narrative conclusion being given. The record of inquest said: “Alex Davies died as a result of a self inflicted ligature. Her intention at the time of applying the ligature cannot be determined.
“The reasons for Alex’s decline in mental health were multifactorial and included:
- her underlying mental health diagnoses
- that Alex was not on clozapine after July 2024
- an assault on Alex on 10th August 2024
- Alex’s perception of her discharge from IMHT caseload
- Alex’s complex relationship with her family and recent contact
- the comment made by an officer on the morning of 24 December 24
- It is likely that this decline contributed to her death.
“The completion of the healthcare algorithm when Alex was taken to the CSU on the December 24 was inappropriate.
“When Alex first ligatured on the CSU she was not placed on constant observations and this was a failing in care. Governors were present at the time and were able to make this decision. This failing probably caused Alex’s death.
“The fact that Alex was taken to the SU on December 24 probably contributed to Alex’s death and was a failure of care.
“There was a gross failure to place Alex on constant observations whilst on the CSU and as such the death was contributed to by neglect.”
Alex’s mum Stacie, 44, said: “Alex was my little girl and my best friend. All she wanted was help but her situation in prison made her feel like she had no other option but to take her own life.
“I would like to see Styal Prison condemned as I wouldn’t wish what happened to my daughter on my worst enemy. She was treated no better than a feral dog in a cage.”
Stacie added: “Alex suffered from age regression so for her the thought of being on her own in that cell at Christmas would have been torture. Instead of caring for her the nurse just walked away and didn’t raise the fact that she might be at risk.
“My girl wanted help when she was arrested and I know she wouldn’t have wanted to kill herself. The neglectful actions of the prison staff contributed towards her death.”
Alex’s dad Allan, 45, said: “This conclusion is bittersweet justice. Dying through neglect in a prison in the 21st century is truly appalling, and I hope that changes are made to prevent this from happening to somebody else. Alex was such a joyful child and we will always miss her.”
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “This is a deeply upsetting and harrowing case – and it is clear the care Alex received on the day of her death while at HMP/YOI Styal fell far short of basic decency and respect. While it’s right we wait on the outcome of investigations, we would like to offer our deepest sympathies and ongoing thoughts to her loved ones.
“The prison undertook a number of immediate actions following Alex’s death, and we stand ready to put in place the Prison and Probation Ombudsman’s recommendations when they report back in the coming days.”
The Ministry of Justice added that it has established a Women’s Justice Board to advise the government on reducing the number of women in prisons. All prison staff also receive suicide and self-harm prevention and mental health awareness training, according to the ministerial department.
The family was represented by Nicola Miller, a specialist civil liberties solicitor from Broudie Jackson Canter, and Ciara Bartlam from Garden Court North. Nicola Miller said: “For a young vulnerable woman to be neglected in this way in a state prison that allowed her to take her own life is truly abominable.
“Alex should never have been sent to the wholly inappropriate surroundings of a prison where she was wrongly placed in effective solitary confinement, as they didn’t know what else to do with her or how to deal with her needs.
“The treatment by the staff was cruel. She was desperate for help, but instead was neglected. HMP Styal is a women’s prison with a high number of self-inflicted deaths in comparison to the female prison population.
“Significant changes need to be made to ensure the women are getting the help and support they need, and lessons must be learnt to prevent more young lives being lost.”
A damning report from the HM Inspectorate of Prisons found there were more than 5,200 incidents of self-harm reported at the prison in the 12 months prior to March 2025.
Inspectors learnt that one inmate, who was eventually transferred to a mental health hospital, was found to have harmed herself more than 400 times across the year, sometimes on multiple occasions each day.
The report, published in March this year, also revealed disturbing levels of drug use with Styal recording the highest rate of positive drugs tests among women’s prisons in the UK.
Three quarters of inmates said they had mental health problems and in the last 12 months 39 women were sent to the prison due to their “acute vulnerabilities” and lack of specialised support in the community. Additionally 30 had been referred for transfer to hospital under the Mental Health Act.
