Stuart Ford

Stuart Clive Ford, 30, was a White man and loving partner to Valerie Hannington. Stuart experienced mental ill health at various stages throughout his life.

In 1994, Stuart was held on remand at Wormwood Scrubs, where he was abused by other prisoners. Following an injury, he was placed in the hospital wing where he had told prison doctors that he wanted to self-harm. Despite this, he was returned to his cell. Days before his 31st birthday, Stuart was found unresponsive in his cell. He died a self-inflicted death.

Initially postponed due to a lack of cooperation by the prison, police and coroner’s office, the eventual inquest in 1995 led to a Rule 43 report. The coroner recommended that the Home Office make suicide prevention documents "simple and practical" and highlighted failures in information sharing about the health of prisoners.

Valerie led a tireless campaign drawing attention to the lack of adequate mental health support at Wormwood Scrubs. She found that there were five other self-inflicted or suspicious deaths at the prison in the six weeks preceding Stuart’s death.

She, along with Stuart’s family and friends, formed a pressure group, Death on Remand, which sought justice for those who died whilst on remand.