Rianna Cleary, an 18-year-old vulnerable care leaver, had a traumatic experience in HMP Bronzefield, the largest women’s prison in Europe. Alone and in labor pains, she passed out while watching a movie in her prison cell. When she was eventually found, more than 12 hours had passed, and her baby daughter, Aisha, had been born but showed no signs of life. Aisha was covered in meconium, not moving, and had a tinge of blue on her lips. The scene was chaotic, with blood everywhere, prompting Cleary to use her teeth to bite through her own umbilical cord. Staff attempted to resuscitate Aisha with adult masks since neonatal masks were unavailable, but unfortunately, she was pronounced dead. This tragic incident sparked multiple inquiries and investigations which eventually revealed systemic failings that contributed to Aisha’s death.
The inquest into Aisha’s death took nearly four years to commence, involving approximately 50 witnesses, including Cleary herself. Throughout the month-long case, Cleary, now 22, faithfully attended the windowless coroner’s court, seeking answers and justice for herself and her baby. Finally, a comprehensive account of the failures and neglect that led to Aisha’s death has been made public.
Cleary’s life had been challenging from the start. Raised by her father with occasional support from her grandmother, she experienced the death of her nan at the age of 14, which greatly impacted her. Subsequently, she was removed from mainstream education and placed in a care home in Wales. However, she found herself in trouble with the law, leading to her sentence in a secure unit in Bristol. After her release, she faced further difficulties, including her father’s imprisonment and suspected exploitation by drug gangs. Her pregnancy in February 2019 complicated matters even more.
Feeling overwhelmed by the professionals making plans for her baby’s future without considering her wishes, Cleary sought refuge in prison, hoping for more support. However, she was met with a letter from Camden social services that criticized her lifestyle and threatened the removal of her child. This treatment left her feeling judged and ultimately hindered her cooperation with professionals. Cleary believed she was being treated differently from other pregnant inmates, possibly due to her race, age, or past.
As her pregnancy progressed, Cleary’s fear and hopelessness grew. On the day of her labor, she experienced intense pain and attempted to seek help by pressing her cell buzzer multiple times. However, her pleas went unanswered, and it wasn’t until several hours later that a new officer discovered Cleary in distress on the floor. By then, she had lost consciousness. Cleary recalled cutting the umbilical cord with her own teeth and desperately trying to clean up the blood-soaked cell. It wasn’t until two inmates alerted prison officers that the alarm was raised.
During the inquest, it became evident that multiple failures occurred within the prison system and social services that contributed to Aisha’s death. This heartbreaking tragedy has shed light on the need for better care and support for vulnerable individuals, especially pregnant women and new mothers, within the UK prison system.
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