Convicted Child Abuser Found Dead in Prison Cell Under Tragic Circumstances
Jared Perry, a 32-year-old convicted of multiple child abuse charges, has died following an incident in his prison cell at HMP Parc in Bridgend, sparking an in-depth inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death. Found unresponsive on October 30, 2019, Perry was rushed to the hospital where he remained in a coma until his passing. His death comes just months after receiving a 17-year extended sentence at Swansea Crown Court for his crimes against children, some as young as six months, reported by “the Mirror“.
The inquest at Pontypridd Coroners’ Court revealed a series of systemic failures that contributed to Perry’s demise. A critical lapse in prison protocol was highlighted when a prison officer admitted to not removing a particular item from Perry’s cell, which he later used in his suicide attempt. The jury also noted the inadequate monitoring of Perry by prison staff and the delayed transfer to a secure mental health unit as significant factors that led to his tragic end.
Perry, who had a history of mental health issues, including a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, was known to have been a victim of abuse himself at a young age. His deteriorating mental health condition in prison, coupled with his high-risk status as a child abuser, necessitated close observation and care, which was evidently lacking. Despite being placed under enhanced surveillance, including in-cell CCTV, the jury found that the prison’s efforts were insufficient, told “wales online“.
Scheduled for a transfer to the Cwm Seren secure unit under Hywel Dda University Health Board on November 4, Perry’s untimely death on November 3 precluded any chance of receiving the specialized care he needed. The inquest heard poignant testimony from Perry’s mother, Tracey Perry, who expressed hope for her son’s rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into the family, despite the heinous nature of his crimes.
The jury’s conclusion of “misadventure” with contributing factors such as failure in proper observation, delayed transfer to mental health care, and non-removal of hazardous materials from Perry’s cell, casts a spotlight on the challenges and responsibilities of the prison system in handling inmates with severe mental health issues. The medical cause of death was determined to be hypoxic brain injury due to airway obstruction from hanging, a tragic end to a life marked by both perpetrating and suffering from abuse.