A prisoner at HMP Birmingham died from drug-related causes just nine days after his arrival, highlighting the ongoing crisis of illicit substances within the jail.
Martin Casey, 59, a distraction burglar and kidnapper, died from an enlarged heart and synthetic cannabinoid intoxication linked to Spice and Black Mamba on January 9, 2025. His death was one of 17 detailed at the Winson Green jail in a new report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
Casey was the third prisoner to suffer a drugs-related death at HMP Birmingham over three years. Another drug-related death occurred just two days after Casey's passing.
The ombudsman's report revealed that "illicit drugs remain a widespread issue across the prison estate". The jail reported a noticeable rise in illicit drug use in January 2025.
Another inmate, Derrion Adams, 29, was discovered in cardiac arrest beside tampered vapes in his shared cell on October 31, 2024. Adams, described as a "sensitive soul" by his family, died around six months after being jailed.
The prison plans to replace all current vapes with tamper-proof versions by October 2025 to prevent them being modified for drug use. Despite this, the report noted that Birmingham "has a clear and comprehensive strategy for reducing demand and supply of illicit drugs".
The report detailed that of the 17 deaths recorded between January 2022 and September 2025, 10 were from natural causes, three were drug-related, three were self-inflicted, and one was homicide.
