Wormwood Scrubs Mental Health Nurse Called Dying Sex Offender 'Piece of Shit'
A shocking report from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has revealed that a mental health nurse at HMP Wormwood Scrubs called a suicidal sex offender a "piece of shit" as he fought for his life in hospital. The damning investigation found that 65-year-old Peter Magloire did not receive the level of care he could have expected in the community before his death by suicide in January 2023.
Systemic Failures in Prison Mental Health Care
The report by Ombudsman Adrian Usher details multiple failures in the care provided to Mr Magloire, who was serving a life sentence for historic sex offences. Despite being diagnosed with psychotic symptoms and experiencing severe paranoia, the prisoner's deteriorating mental state was not properly managed by prison staff. The investigation found "different perceptions among healthcare staff of the significance of his paranoid beliefs" and a complete "lack of a plan to support and respond to his deteriorating mental state."
Mr Magloire had repeatedly expressed fears that prisoners and staff wanted to kill him because of his offences, though investigators found no evidence to support these claims. His mental health had been deteriorating for years, with documented episodes of "paranoid and delusional thinking" dating back to his time at HMP Isle of Wight.
Disturbing Comments During Medical Crisis
According to the report, the day after Mr Magloire was admitted to hospital following his suicide attempt, a paramedic reported hearing one of the prison's mental health nurses say: "He was a piece of shit anyway, doesn't matter." An officer was also reported to have made a dismissive comment about the dying prisoner. The report notes that while the officer's name was not provided, the Head of the Mental Health In-Reach Team confirmed the nurse no longer worked at the prison.
Mr Magloire was found unconscious in his cell on January 29, 2023, after asphyxiating himself. He was taken to hospital and placed on life support, which was turned off on February 3. An inquest later determined he died by suicide due to anoxic brain injury caused by asphyxiation.
Repeated Warnings Ignored
The report reveals that Mr Magloire had given multiple warnings about his intentions to harm himself. In November 2022, staff began monitoring him under suicide and self-harm prevention procedures (known as ACCT) after expressing concerns he might try to hurt himself. He was later admitted to hospital after stabbing himself in the stomach with cutlery, having warned officers on several occasions of his intention to do so.
Despite these clear warning signs, the investigation found that ACCT and segregation processes were not always followed properly. The report also notes there were instances where Mr Magloire's case was not discussed at weekly safety intervention meetings, despite him meeting the criteria for such discussions.
Transfer Delays and Communication Breakdowns
Mr Magloire had raised concerns about his safety in the prison and requested a transfer. The prison indicated they would look into moving him, but the report states that "no action was taken until four months later." Once Mr Magloire became subject to a parole review, no further attempts were made to transfer him to a more appropriate facility.
The investigation found poor collaboration between prison staff and mental health professionals, noting that "there could have been better collaboration between prison and mental health in-reach team colleagues" in managing Mr Magloire's complex case.
Prison Service Response and Recommendations
A Prison Service spokesperson confirmed that HMP Wormwood Scrubs has accepted all of the Ombudsman's recommendations and has already implemented changes to better support prisoners at risk of self-harm or suicide. These changes include increased mental health screening and assessments.
The report makes three key recommendations:
- The Head of Healthcare should ensure the segregation policy is properly developed and implemented
- The Governor should establish effective quality assurance arrangements regarding ACCT monitoring and segregation procedures
- The Governor should ensure the Safety Intervention Meeting agenda includes consideration of how long a prisoner has been segregated
An accompanying action plan indicates that all recommendations have been accepted by HMP Wormwood Scrubs management. The prison, a Category B men's facility located in Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, houses approximately 1,200 inmates and has faced previous criticism over conditions and management.
