Mohammed Sayeef Uddin : “Highpoint Inmate Death Inquest: 5-Day Inquiry”

The Tragic Death of Mohammed Sayeef Uddin at Stradishall Prison

On December 28, 2022, Mohammed Sayeef Uddin, aged 39, passed away at Stradishall prison under heartbreaking circumstances. Mr. Uddin had been serving a three-year sentence for drug-related offenses since March 2022, starting his incarceration at HMP Pentonville in London.

During his time at Pentonville, concerns were raised about Mr. Uddin’s mental health, prompting the need for autism and ADHD assessments. However, before these assessments could be completed, he was transferred to Highpoint prison in October.

At Highpoint, it was revealed that funding constraints from NHS England prevented the necessary assessments from taking place. Despite Mr. Uddin’s initial denial of any mental health diagnoses, he later expressed feelings of anxiety and worry to prison staff in November.

A referral was made to Forward Trust for mental health support, but the waiting period for an appointment could range from three to six months. As his anxiety escalated, Mr. Uddin was placed under an ACCT and his observations were increased to every two hours.

Subsequently, Mr. Uddin disclosed thoughts of suicide and self-harm to a substance misuse practitioner from Phoenix Futures. He also shared feelings of paranoia and requested a transfer to the north wing of the prison.

Despite being moved to the north wing on December 13, Mr. Uddin faced challenges in accessing support due to staff shift patterns and absence. An operational support grade checked on him in the early hours of December 28, receiving what was believed to be a positive response from Mr. Uddin.

Tragically, Mr. Uddin was found deceased in his cell an hour later. The inquest into his death is ongoing, with a conclusion expected on Friday.

If you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support, please contact NHS 111 (select option 2) or the Samaritans on 116 123. These services are available 24/7.