Bill Bissett, an 88-year-old inmate serving a sentence for sexual abuse, tragically took his own life hours before his planned release. The exclusion zone preventing his return home coupled with inadequate support from the Probation Service led to his despair and ultimately his death.
An 88-year-old prison inmate, Bill Bissett, who was due for release on licence on October 13, 2023, tragically took his own life just hours before his expected freedom. Bill, serving a six and a half year sentence at HMP Wymott near Leyland, had been convicted of sexually abusing five young boys. Despite his impending release, a formidable obstacle awaited him: an exclusion zone preventing him from returning to his family home in Lytham or Blackpool, both locations included within the zone.
This created a dire situation for Bill, who, due to his advanced age and multiple health conditions, including failing eyesight, hearing impairment, congenital hip disease, and high blood pressure, was deemed unfit to live alone. Bill's family was deeply concerned about his well-being and the lack of support he was receiving. His daughter, Eileen, contacted the Probation Service to understand how they could help her father navigate this challenging situation. However, the response was inadequate and often delayed, leaving Bill feeling increasingly isolated and hopeless. The Probation Service initially suggested that Bill could live with his sister in Glasgow, a distance of 200 miles away. They also warned him that failing to comply with the terms of his licence could result in his return to prison. This prospect was unbearable for Bill, who expressed a preference for remaining incarcerated rather than being separated from his family. On October 12, the day before his release, Bill met with Fylde Council and was informed that he would be placed in a Travelodge in either Preston or Chorley. He was told that finding permanent accommodation was his responsibility, adding to his already mounting anxiety. Letters found in Bill's cell after his death revealed the despair he felt, describing the Probation Service's neglect and expressing his fear of homelessness. The inquest, which began on January 12, 2024, at Preston's County Hall, seeks to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Bill's tragic death and examine the failings that contributed to his despair
Prisoner Suicide Exclusion Zone Probation Service Elderly Offender Sexual Abuse
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