Shaun Clare had a history of drug misuse and had been banned from several shops in one part of the north west
Shaun Clare had a history of drug misuse and had been banned from several shops in one part of the north west
A man who was banned from entering several supermarkets and high street shops was found dead in his bed on Boxing Day just days after he was released from HMP Altcourse. Shaun Clare, a prolific offender and a man who had a significant custodial history, was released from prison homeless before being found unresponsive in his bed on December 26.
The 35-year-old was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison for theft and sent to HMP Altcourse on September 11, 2024, having been released from prison less than two weeks earlier. According to a report from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), Clare had a mental health diagnosis and a history of alcohol and drug use, which included heroin, cocaine and opiates
In the days that followed his arrival at Altcourse, Clare had meetings about his drug use as well as a meeting about his housing due to him being homeless on release. It was noted that Clare was due in court again on September 20 where it was likely his sentence would be extended. Nevertheless, housing in the Congleton area of Cheshire was explored.
On September 20 last year Clare was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison for public order offences, with his sentence to run alongside his 10-week sentence.
In the PPO report, it said: “On 24 September, Ms B, a senior probation officer, discussed Mr Clare with the Head of the Probation Delivery Unit. Ms B then emailed Ms A to ask her to progress several actions aimed at providing Mr Clare with significant support when he was released from prison.”
On October 21, Clare was handed a further prison sentence for theft and his release date was pushed back from October 24 to November 26.
Clare was released from prison on that date and was offered a supply a medication, he refused to take naloxone – a drug which reverses the effects of opiate overdose – and signed a disclaimer.
He was taken to meet his mother as well as taken to the Job Centre to claim benefits before being transported to his accommodation but was evicted on December 12 before being recalled to prison the following day after he was charged with a further offence of burglary and common assault.
He returned to Altcourse on December 16 where he received support for his drug use.
His release date was set for December 23 with a housing referral made but when released he was given short-term accommodation at the YMCA in Runcorn.
Clare’s criminal history included a Criminal Behaviour Order which banned him from every Asda, Tesco, Co-Op, Boots and Holland and Barrett in Cheshire, along with other shops.
A police report noted that on Christmas Day last year, Clare returned to the YMCA intoxicated with a support worker checking on him throughout the night. At 7.15am on December 26, the support worker found Clare face down in his bed.
When he did not respond, paramedics attended and started CPR before he was pronounced dead at 7.58am.
In the ombudsman report published this week, it said: “The post-mortem report concluded that Mr Clare had died from combined drug toxicity.
“The toxicology results indicated that Mr Clare had used cannabis, bromazolam (a psychoactive substance), cocaine and pregabalin before his death. Mr Clare also had left ventricular hypertrophy which did not cause but contributed to his death.”
No recommendations have been made following the conclusion of the investigation into Clare’s death.
