A prison operator and an NHS health board have admitted criminal charges over the death of a prisoner who contracted Covid-19 and died alone in his cell. Sodexo, which runs HMP Addiewell in West Lothian, and NHS Lothian pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to failing in their duties under health and safety legislation.

Twelve days without seeing a nurse

Calum Inglis, 34, from Edinburgh, was serving a short sentence for serious assault when he tested positive on 12 October 2021. He was asthmatic and unvaccinated, and was found dead in his cell 12 days later, on 24 October. The court heard he had been isolated in his cell, had not been seen by a nurse during those 12 days, and had told his family he was coughing up significant amounts of blood.

What each organisation admitted

The court heard Sodexo had failed to monitor Mr Inglis adequately after he tested positive, while NHS Lothian, which provided healthcare at the prison, had failed to put an adequate care plan in place. Sheriff Julius Komorowski offered his condolences to Mr Inglis's family, who were in court as the guilty pleas were entered, and said he had died in "awful circumstances".

A first prosecution of its kind

The family's lawyer said Mr Inglis had been treated "worse than an animal". The case is believed to be the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland, and comes after the Crown Office investigated around 6,000 deaths related to coronavirus. The then Lord Advocate instructed the prosecution last year.

Sentencing next month

A Sodexo spokesperson offered deepest sympathies to Mr Inglis's family and said it would be inappropriate to comment further while legal proceedings continued. The case is due back at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for sentencing on 17 December.