Bolton man, 24, found dead in his prison cell
A prisoner died when he suffered a cardiac arrest after smoking the drug spice using a modified vape. Adam Diesa-Green, from Bolton, died on January 17, 2025, at HMP Lowdham Grange, Nottinghamshire. He was 24.A report arising from an investigation into his death by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has now been published, revealing he 'died because of a cardiac arrest caused by the use of synthetic cannabinoids'.Diesa-Green, who was jailed for five years and ten months for GBH with intent in May, 2023, had a history of using drugs in prison, reveals the report. Just two days before his death, he attended a support group meeting where the dangers of psychoactive substances were made clear, said ombudsman Adrian Usher.Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily NewsletterStaff and paramedics attempted to revive him after he was found 'unresponsive' in his cell at lock-up, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.Diesa-Green's conviction followed the murder in Bolton of Tyrone Williamson by Anthony George in 2021. He was one of three men handed lengthy jail sentences for a subsequent 'revenge' attack on George, who a court heard was stabbed with the same knife he used to kill Mr Williamson.Diesa-Green, reveals the report, had been transferred to HMP Lowdham Grange from Strangeways prison in Manchester. Ombudsman Mr Usher said: "Mr Diesa-Green used illicit substances in the community, which continued while in prison. He had disclosed his dependency on alcohol and while at Lowdham Grange he regularly brewed illicit alcohol, which he said he drank daily."In November 2024, Mr Diesa-Green was taken to hospital after being found under the influence of drugs, and he later told staff that he had used psychoactive substances."In January 2025, Mr Diesa-Green attended a substance use group, which focused on the risks associated with using psychoactive substances. At 5.52pm on 17 January, while locking prisoners in their cells for the evening, an officer found Mr Diesa-Green unresponsive in his cell."The report reveals that between March 2024 and April 2025, six prisoners, including Diesa-Green, died at Lowdham Grange due to 'apparent drugs toxicity'.In the September before his death, he was said to have been found with 'four litres of illicitly brewed alcohol in a bucket'. After he died, prison staff found 34 tampered vape capsules, a USB stick, three weapons and up to 100ml of illicit alcohol in his cell.The report said: "The post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Diesa-Green died from a cardiac arrest due to synthetic cannabinoid use. Toxicology investigation of Mr Diesa-Green's blood and urine samples detected the presence of synthetic cannabinoids and recent use of ketamine."Prisoners tampering with vapes to allow them to smoke psychoactive substances or other drugs is a common theme throughout the prison estate." A verdict of misadventure was recorded at an inquest into his death.
