Nikolas Clarke is acting for the local authority in an Article 2 inquest into the death of AC, a 49-year-old man. AC took his own life while detained at HMP Pentonville.
In May 2015, the local authority had assessed AC under the Care Act 2014 because of concerns that he might have care needs. The assessment found AC needed advocacy support. This was provided by a third party, a psychotherapist, who had treated him previously.
In 2019, AC was charged with public order offences and bailed to the advocate’s address. Later that year, he was sentenced to 18 months’ custody.
While in prison, he took his own life.
The inquest
The inquest will consider:
- the monitoring, care, supervision and treatment AC received while in HMP Pentonville including that of his mental health
- the role of the local authority’s mental health and social services departments during AC’s detention, and any relevant previous community care.
- the events of and leading up to AC’s death.