A 25-year-old prisoner at HMP Parc in South Wales was found dead less than an hour after receiving a disciplinary notice, an inquest has heard.
Lewis Petryszyn, who was serving a sentence of three years and 10 months for trafficking Class A drugs and wounding a man outside a Swansea nightclub, died in April 2022 from the inhalation of illicit substances, including psychoactive drugs. An investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has since exposed a series of serious failings at the privately-run jail.
On April 14, 2022, Petryszyn tested positive for psychoactive substances and was issued paperwork the next day for a disciplinary hearing. The ombudsman’s report revealed that a prison officer breached protocol by sliding the notice under his cell door instead of handing it to him in person. Less than an hour later, staff raised the alarm after finding Petryszyn slumped on the floor. He was unresponsive and died despite resuscitation attempts.
Prison Oversight and Drug Use Concerns
Ombudsman Kimberley Bingham stated in her findings: “This meant staff missed a possible opportunity to provide emergency medical care to Mr Petryszyn sooner.”
The post-mortem revealed Petryszyn had consumed two different psychoactive substances, an antipsychotic drug (olanzapine) that was not prescribed to him, and one of his prescribed antidepressants, mirtazapine. The ombudsman also raised concerns over his simultaneous prescription of mirtazapine and fluoxetine—two antidepressants that, according to medical guidelines, should only be prescribed together by a qualified specialist.
Wider Drug Issues and Oversight Failures
The report condemned the availability of illicit substances at the Category B prison and noted a growing problem of inmates trading prescribed medication. The prison pharmacist was also criticised for a lack of oversight in medication prescribing practices.
This latest development follows a critical inspection report released in March 2025, which found that HMP Parc had seen a “significant decline” in standards since 2022. Inspectors linked a spate of inmate deaths to the jail’s failure to stem the “alarming” flow of drugs inside the facility. The prison is operated under a 10-year contract by private security firm G4S.
Call for Reform
The findings have fuelled calls for urgent reform in the management and oversight of UK private prisons. Campaigners and justice reform groups have highlighted the risks of inadequate healthcare, poor staff training, and rising access to contraband in privatised prison systems.
An HMP Parc spokesperson has not yet responded to the findings of the ombudsman’s report.
For more updates on UK prison oversight and justice system reforms, follow developments at www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk or consult the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s official site.
