Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

the course of the evening but, because of what happened later, he was distracted from
doing so and did not want to complete the record retrospectively when next he was on
duty. Immediately after seeing Mr Lodge he had gone about his wing duties, helping with
locking prisoners up and checking the roll. He had taken his tea-break then helped with
unlocking prisoners for tea.
9.9 Mr Downs made the following entry in Mr Lodge’s history sheets:
“Whilst escorting this inmate from visits he stated ‘you’re on fucking top man’ and
‘fucking screw’. When confronted on the wing later he denied any knowledge despite this
having been witnessed by Officer Dean. Warned re his attitude but just laughed. LOA x
1. Incentive Board referral started.”
LOA means loss of association.
9.10 Mr Downs omitted to sign the entry. It immediately followed his signed entry
about the discharge board. Officer Downs said he may have been confused by that. He
was talking to Officer Bowcock while making the entry and might have seen his signature
above and assumed he had signed.
Officer Dean’s evidence
9.11 Officer Dean told the Prison Service investigation that Sonny Lodge initially went
with the group going towards the Bottom Jail (wings A to E) instead of the group going
toward the Top Jail (wings G, H, I and K). Mr Downs asked him to move to the right
queue. At first Mr Lodge ignored Officer Downs. When asked again to move, Mr Lodge
“tutted to himself” and acted as if he “just didn’t care”. Officer Dean said Mr Lodge was
abusive but he could not remember him swearing.
Sonny Lodge’s account
9.12 According to the summary record of the adjudication next day, Mr Lodge said he
was pulled in front of the SO and accused of telling an officer to “fuck off”, then taken to
his cell, where he stayed for about an hour before being unlocked for tea. He got his tea
and was locked up for about another hour and then the officers came to do a search.
Mr Gray’s evidence
9.13 Mr Lodge’s cellmate, Mr Gray, told the Prison Service investigators and the
Coroner’s officer that Mr Lodge was “low” when he came back from visits and was
holding his head in his hands. Mr Gray said Mr Lodge told him that officers finished his
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