A 22-year-old man, Leo Henshaw, died after falling from a building just days after his unexpected release from prison, raising concerns about mental health support.
Exeter: A 22-year-old man named Leo Henshaw fell to his death from a flat. This happened just two days after he was unexpectedly released from HMP Bristol.
Leo had a troubled past, including a recent charge for sexually assaulting a man. He died on October 7, 2023, from multiple injuries.
At the time of his death, he was under the influence of methamphetamine. An investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has concluded.
Leo struggled with mental health issues and substance misuse. He was known to the courts and prison services. In April 2022, he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
After three months, he was discharged. A psychiatrist said he didn’t have an active mental health condition. However, he was arrested on the day of his discharge for assaulting a staff member.
In September, Leo was convicted of assault but released on post-sentence supervision. He was sent to a probation hostel in Plymouth.
In February 2023, he was convicted again for another assault. He was sent back to HMP Exeter to await sentencing. In March, he was found in his cell with a bed sheet around his neck.
He denied it was a suicide attempt. Later, he was transferred to HMP Bristol and sentenced to five months for assaulting an emergency worker.
After his release on April 25, he returned to Exeter. Just three days later, he was arrested again for sexual assault and sent back to HMP Bristol.
Despite receiving mental health support, his behavior was reported as ‘very bizarre’ in October. On October 5, he appeared in court via video link.
He was released on bail and given a discharge grant. The next day, he missed a probation appointment, and services were notified.
On October 7, Leo jumped from a sixth-floor window of a flat he wasn’t living in. He had a history of mental health issues and was under suicide prevention procedures.
His release was unplanned, but prison staff contacted his community offender manager to arrange support. They recognized his vulnerability and tried to help him.
The PPO noted some good practices around his release, but there were still concerns about the support he received.
The last full inspection of HMP Bristol was in July 2023, highlighting areas needing improvement, especially regarding reoffending and release planning.
