The police officers facing disciplinary action, 2 custody sergeants and a custody detention officer, lied on the custody record, claiming that an additional cell visit had been made, though the IPCC prefer the softer wording of ‘misleading and inaccurate information’. Police guidelines require a cell visit every 30 minutes for those thought to be intoxicated.

After the decision to call an ambulance was made, once again he was left alone in the cell for a further 21 minutes.

Naseem Malik, the IPCC Commisioner for the North West, in her report commented ‘…the final indignity was leaving a man in need of medical care alone on the floor his cell for 21 minutes…’