19 October 2021

Before HM Coroner Tanyka Rawden
Rutland and North Leicestershire Coroner’s Court

Opened 18 October 2021
Scheduled for five days

Eshea Nile Dillon from London was just 22 when he died at HMP Stocken in the East Midlands on 24 March 2018. An inquest into his death opened at Rutland and North Leicestershire Coroner’s Court on Monday 18 October.

Nile had severe asthma and had called for help as he was locked in his cell and struggling to breathe. Prison officers did not enter for eight minutes and there was a delay in alerting others to the medical emergency and calling an ambulance. When officers did enter the cell Nile had already lost consciousness and was later pronounced dead.
 
Known by his middle name, Nile was a young Black man from Hackney, East London. His family describe him as a beautiful boy who loved life. He was adventurous and enjoyed dancing and music.

In his teens Nile became involved with local men who his family believe groomed him to get involved in criminal and gang activity. However he worked hard to get out of the problems of the local area. Nile had trained in travel and tourism and worked as a hotel apprentice and in various other jobs.
  
Nile was sent to prison in March 2017 for drug offences and initially held in HMP Woodhill. He was transferred to Stocken three months later, where his brother Diarra was also held. At the time of his death Nile was in a single cell, and his brother was in the cell below.
 
Nile had asthma since he was a child and had a lung capacity of just 55%. He was prescribed medication, to be administered regularly through a nebuliser or inhaler. His brother also has asthma and there is evidence that they sometimes shared inhalers.
 
In recent months Nile had missed asthma reviews but two days before his death he had seen a nurse for a review and reported frequent shortness of breath and regular asthma symptoms. His family are concerned that he did not receive the medical care he would have in the community, and have serious questions about the response to his ill health.

The inquest will establish the cause of Nile’s death, and is examining the circumstances and actions of the prison service.
 
In the past five years (October 2016-21) there have been thirteen deaths in HMP Stocken, including Nile’s. The majority of these relate to physical ill health, and all but one of those who died were under 60 years old. Previous reports from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman have been critical of emergency responses.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information please contact [email protected] and CC [email protected]

The family are represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Chris Callendar and Aimee Brackfield at Simpson Millar and Angelina Nicolau at 1 Pump Court. They are supported by INQUEST caseworker Caroline Finney.

Other Interested persons represented are the Ministry of Justice for HMP Stocken, and Practice Plus Group who have healthcare responsibility in the prison.