Forest Bank prison took 'no action' over inmate's sex assault and bullying fears, sister says

A man on remand at Forest Bank prison told his sister other prisoners there bullied him and threatened to sexual assault him, a newly-published report reveals. And she alleged staff at the prison in Salford took no action over his claims and didn't check on his welfare or offer him any support.

Neil Ballard's sister told investigators she had reported to the prison her brother telling her in phone calls that he would take his own life. She said Forest Bank took no action to inform staff at HMP Risley, near Warrington, that he was vulnerable and suicidal.

Ballard, 40, was found dead in his cell at HMP Risley, where he was subsequently transferred to from Forest Bank, in October, 2022, reveals the report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), which independently investigates deaths in custody.

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Ballard was remanded to HMP Liverpool on June 13, 2022, charged with threats to kill and aggravated stalking. Months later, on September 8, he was jailed for 16 months. At that stage, he was at Forest Bank prison in Salford, but was moved to HMP Risley a month later. He was at Risley for two weeks before his death, with the report saying he had 'no concerns' about being there.

Ballard was said to have had regular phone calls with his sister. In one in October, he said he didn't want to leave his cell 'as he was worried that other prisoners might take his property and that he might cop for it', said the report. He claimed he'd heard other prisoners wouldn't get on with him and 'also asked whether it was worth carrying on with life'.

The report says his final call to her, on October 19, was 'challenging and