For nine years, Haydar Jeffries lived under the shadow of an indefinite sentence. He knew that for even the smallest infraction he could be taken back to prison at any time.
“I can’t even spit in the street,” he would tell his brother in fear after his release from a six-year prison sentence in 2012 for assault in the Public Protection Prison (IPP).
Despite the now-abolished sentence weighing heavily on him, the publican thrived, spending almost a decade rebuilding his life and transforming his Oxfordshire pub and B&B into a community center.
“He was a decent man and anyone could be proud of him,” his brother said, recalling the “loving and generous” brother who always had a smile on his face.
However, when Haidar’s worst fears were realized and his husband Andrew died suddenly of a heart attack, he was still reeling and serious accusations were made about him to the police.
He was arrested in the middle of the night in January 2022 and taken to prison. Months later, police confirmed they had dropped their investigation into the complaint, which the family said was completely false.
But under the terms of his IPP sentence, which the United Nations described as “psychological torture”, he could be held indefinitely until the parole board deems him fit for release.
He spent more than a year suffering as his mental health deteriorated dramatically. On February 28 of the following year, he was found naked in his cell, on all fours, barking like a dog, in the throes of severe depression and acute psychosis. He was not given any medical attention by staff at HMP Coldingley in Surrey.
The next morning he tried to take his own life. He died in hospital a few days later at the age of 50.
An inquest this month found that dozens of failings led to his death, including a gross failure by prison staff to provide him with basic medical care that amounted to negligence.
Haydar Jefferies, 50, was recalled to prison still reeling from the death of husband Andrew, described as “his soul mate and guiding light” (Supplied)
Haidar’s grieving family have called for urgent reforms to independent prisons and an end to prisoners being treated like “cattle” in an overcrowded prison system.
His brother Iksandar Jefferies told independent: “When he came out of jail, he was very scared. He always said, even if I spit in the street, I’m still done. It bothered him for almost ten years, and then this happened.
“My brother lost his life due to false accusations. A call made by a person out of spite or anger.
His devastated mother Zora said those struggling with the IPP sentences were doomed because they could not defend themselves, adding: “His life ended, it ended in prison, because of that Tags: Independent People’s Party He doesn’t want to go back to jail.
New Labor introduced indeterminate sentences in 2005, which impose minimum sentences but no maximum sentences on offenders, in an effort to crack down on crime.
The rules were repealed in 2012 over human rights concerns, but without retroactive effect, resulting in thousands of people spending longer than the minimum sentence in prison until they could prove to parole boards they were safe for release. At least 90 IPP prisoners took their own lives in prison because they had lost hope of release.
Once released, they will be subject to strict license conditions for 10 years, which can result in them being recalled indefinitely for minor infractions, including missing probation appointments or being late for curfew. The Conservative government this year reduced the duration of a driver’s license from 10 to three years, but the change came too late for Haidar.
A jury inquest at Woking Coroner’s Court said his IPP status and delays in parole hearings “played a minimal role in the development of his psychosis”, drawing a damning narrative conclusion.
Staff failed to secure medical care for Haydar as he fell into depression and psychosis HMP Coldingley, Surrey (PA), inquest jury found
The publican’s mental health began to deteriorate after police dropped the investigation and he was not released, his family said.
To add insult to injury, his parole hearing was severely delayed, originally scheduled for March 2022 but postponed by six months due to unwellness of a panel member.
By February, Haidar was calling his family multiple times a day because he was under the delusion that prison guards were trying to kill him.
Zola and Ixandal made multiple desperate calls to prison expressing concerns about his mental state, but an investigation found none of the calls were recorded and no mental health support was sought.
There was finally a referral to the mental health team the day before he was found slumped in his cell, but no one came until the next morning. He did not live to see them.
“He spent 14 months in prison through no fault of his own, just because the justice system was so messed up,” Iksandar said, noting that the prison missed “every red flag imaginable.”
“I feel so scared for anyone in prison right now. There is no due process to protect human beings. It’s scary to think that you are actually cattle. You are just numbers that no one cares about.
His mother added: “I am heartbroken, thinking about Haidar every day and what he has been through and reliving it in the coroner’s court.
“My life will never be the same without Haidar. My heart goes out to all the other prisoners’ wives and mothers, and anyone with IPP. It must have caused so much harm.
Family says help was not forthcoming at prison despite Haidar raising ‘every imaginable red flag’ (Supplied)
Assistant coroner Caroline Topping heard the inquest found Haidar should have been under constant supervision and taken to a safe place.
The jury found that “none of this was done and represented a serious failure on the part of HMP Coldingley’s custodial staff.”
Civil liberties lawyer Cormac McDonough of Hodge Jones & Allen, who represented the Haidar family at the inquest, said: “The jury found neglect in this case. Findings of negligence are extremely rare, which shows how fundamentally failed Haidar was during his trial.
“It is clear that Haidar suffered as a result of the unfair circumstances surrounding the IPP recall, which led to his deteriorating mental state. Prison staff were completely unaware of his worsening condition and failed to take appropriate steps to ensure his safety.” After multiple distressing phone calls and multiple attempts by his family to get Haidar the help he clearly needed, no action was taken.
“Haidar deserved better. We welcome the jury’s highly critical narrative conclusion and hope that lessons can be learned from the catastrophic failure that led to Haydar’s death.
A spokesman for the Prison and Probation Service said: “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Haydar Jeffries.
“As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is investigating and we will respond to their report in due course.”
