PAUL CAVNER FROM BLYTH SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE AND DIES IN HMP NORTHUMBERLAND CELL

In a tragic and disturbing case, Paul Cavner, a convicted sex offender from Blyth, met a tragic end while incarcerated at HMP Northumberland. Cavner, who was serving a nine-year sentence for serious sexual offenses against a vulnerable young girl, was found dead in his prison cell on November 1, 2020. The cause of death was determined to be hanging, as he was discovered by prison staff using a blanket to take his own life.

Attempts to revive him through CPR were made by paramedics, but unfortunately, these efforts proved unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The circumstances surrounding his death prompted an investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), which revealed significant failings in the prison’s suicide prevention measures. The report highlighted that monitoring procedures designed to prevent self-harm and suicide were prematurely discontinued six days before Cavner’s death, raising serious concerns about the adequacy of the prison’s mental health protocols.

According to the PPO’s findings, the prison’s staff failed to manage Cavner’s risk appropriately. The report pointed out that the last review of Cavner’s mental health and risk assessment was conducted without the involvement of a mental health nurse, and no mental health professional attended the final review. This omission was a critical lapse, considering Cavner’s ongoing mental health struggles, including hearing voices and expressing suicidal thoughts.

Further complicating the situation was a urine test arranged by a mental health nurse at the start of Cavner’s monitoring period. The test aimed to determine whether a urinary tract infection might be causing his confusion. Although the results were negative and uploaded to his medical record, the mental health team was not notified of these findings, which could have influenced his mental health assessment and subsequent care. The ombudsman emphasized that had the mental health team been aware of the test results, Cavner might have received a more comprehensive mental health evaluation.

In the report, Ombudsman Sue McAllister expressed her concern over the management of Cavner’s case. She criticized the decision to end the monitoring prematurely and highlighted the lack of mental health input in that decision. She also noted inconsistencies in staff attendance at review meetings and inaccuracies in documentation, which further compromised the quality of care provided.

Additionally, the report revealed that Cavner had previously overdosed on medications in October 2020, citing voices and paranoia as reasons. He was hospitalized but discharged the following day, after which the prison’s suicide prevention procedures, known as ACCT, were initiated. During subsequent reviews, Cavner reported hearing “unpleasant and abusive” voices that sometimes urged him to take medication. By the third review, he claimed to be “coming to terms” with these voices, yet the monitoring was discontinued ten days later.

Six days after the cessation of monitoring, Cavner was found hanging in his cell. The PPO’s investigation concluded that the management of his risk was inadequate and that the procedures in place failed to protect him effectively. The report criticized the lack of mental health professional involvement in the final review and the failure to ensure continuous oversight of Cavner’s mental health needs.

Following the findings, prison authorities at HMP Northumberland were instructed to review and improve their procedures for managing prisoners at risk of self-harm or suicide. They were also ordered to review the process for requesting physical health investigations to ensure all relevant staff are involved and informed. The prison has publicly acknowledged the investigation and expressed its condolences to Cavner’s family, stating that it is committed to implementing the recommended changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Paul Cavner’s death underscores the critical importance of proper mental health management and vigilant monitoring within the prison system, especially for vulnerable individuals with a history of mental health issues and self-harm tendencies. His case remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from systemic failures in safeguarding at-risk prisoners.