Rapist died after being found 'covered in blood' in cell days after being handed life sentence
25.09.2023 - 18:59
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A rapist died after being found 'covered in blood' in his cell days after being handed a life sentence, an inquest has heard.
Vasile Nastase was found by prison staff with 'incised wounds' to his neck, one of which had 'internally cut into his jugular vein', in the early hours of September 1, 2019, jurors were told.
The 49-year-old, who had previously been on remand at HMP Forest Bank, had been sentenced to life imprisonment just five days earlier after admitting to a 'serious sexual offence', jurors were told.
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Mr Nastase, who had moved over to the UK from Romania in 2018, was living in Leigh when he was arrested and charged by police for the sex attack, before he was later jailed for life, the inquest heard.
At an inquest into his death at Bolton Coroner's Court, Coroner Mr Timothy Brennand told jurors that, when on remand, Mr Nastase was 'not considered to be a problem inmate' and was 'engaging with prison life well' - but that after sentencing, he underwent a 'possible decline in his mental state'.
The court heard that on August 28 2019, Mr Nastase was assessed and placed in a single occupancy cell. Days later, in the early hours of September 1, a prison officer carrying out hourly checks saw him through the door 'covered in blood'.
"A prison officer looked into the door of his locked cell, where Mr Nastase was seen on the bed covered in blood. The prison officer called for assistance," Mr Brennand said.
"When healthcare staff entered the cell, he became aggressive; attempting to fight off those that were