Child prisoner, 16, dies at youth offenders’ institution

A child inmate has died after claims he was ‘beaten to a pulp’ at a young offenders’ institution.

The 16-year-old boy was said to have been found unresponsive in his cell at Feltham Young Offenders’ Institute, in south-west London, on Monday.

Prison staff called for an ambulance and the teenager was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead two hours later.

His girlfriend, who asked not to be named, said the teenager suffered from a heart condition but did not believe this was the cause of his death.

And when she was asked to examine the body, she said he appeared to have suffered severe injuries.

Last night, a Scotland Yard spokesman said the death was being treated as ‘unexpected’.

They said: ‘On Tuesday, April 21 at 12.05am, police were notified by staff at Feltham Prison and Young Offender Institute about the death of a boy who had been found unresponsive and later died in hospital.

‘The London Ambulance Service were called at around 9.30pm on Monday, April 20 and treated the boy, aged 16, before taking him to hospital. He sadly died at 11.43pm.

Watchdogs concluded in 2024 that Feltham, a young offenders institution and prison for men aged 18 to 35 in south-west London, was the most violent in the country

‘At this stage, the death is being treated as unexpected and enquiries remain ongoing. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.’

The young man’s girlfriend said she had identified his body at West Middlesex Hospital.

‘His body had been beaten to a pulp, he was covered in scuff marks and bruises,’ she told the Daily Mail.

‘We had to look at him through a glass window, we weren’t allowed to say goodbye properly.

‘We are so confused. We don’t know how he died. He did have a heart condition but it is one that is very rare to die from.

‘His mother is completely broken. She was originally told he had died in the prison but then later that it was in hospital so we just don’t know what happened.

‘He had been in trouble, but he was 16, a child, and should have been protected. He had his whole life ahead of him and planned to go back to college but now he can’t.

‘It is a complete disgrace that this happened.’

The 16-year-old boy was said to have been found unresponsive in his cell at Feltham Young Offenders’ Institute. Pictured is an occupied cell at the prison in south-west London

A prison source said that if the boy had been injured, he should have been subjected to regular checks every 15 minutes from staff.

‘Heads may roll for this,’ they said. The revelations at the coroners court might actually shut Feltham down once and for all.’

The Daily Mail revealed in November that staff at the prison accused of criminal offences were being permitted to quietly resign or transfer to avoid police probes.

Watchdogs concluded in 2024 that Feltham, a young offenders institution and prison for men aged 18 to 35 in south-west London, was the most violent in the country.

In 2019, it was subject to an urgent notification from the Prisons Inspectorate – but a follow-up inspection last August found levels of violence were still as high as anywhere in the UK.

A Youth Custody Service spokesman said: ‘We were saddened to hear of the death of a child from YOI Feltham, who died in hospital on Monday April 20, and our thoughts are with their friends and family.

‘As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.’