The circumstances surrounding the death of a woman who was hospitalised within 24 hours of being remanded to prison remain unclear. Rebecca Parkinson was remanded to HMP Styal, in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on July 28, 2022, charged with assaulting a police officer.

Before the 43-year-old arrived, the prison had been informed that she was at risk of self-harm and had a history of mental health issues, including anxiety depression and psychosis.

Upon her arrival at the jail, measures to prevent self-harm were implemented and she was to be monitored every hour. During a medical examination, Ms Parkinson informed staff that she was anxious about being in prison for the first time and had self-harmed by banging her head on July 25.

Due to her history of self-harm, she was placed in a unit designed for individuals requiring higher levels of care. The next day, just before 6pm, an officer observed Ms Parkinson getting into bed, assuming she was resting after not eating much during the day.

When the officer returned around 6.45pm, she found her lying face down on a quilt on the floor of her cell.

A report now released by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman reveals that the officer believed she saw Ms Parkinson breathing, but received no response when she knocked on the door and called out her name. She then radioed for assistance.