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Prison drug dealer found dead in cell after alleged £500k income every two months

Johnpaul Digweed, a 36-year-old inmate serving a 25-year sentence for drug dealing, was found hanged in his cell at HMP Garth in Lancashire in April 2024. A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report found no evidence of immediate suicide risk but raised concerns about staff welfare check procedures and suggested financial worries may have been a factor.

By Tertius News AI Desk 1 distinct · 3 mastheads · 3 articles Version 1 Coverage Sep 1, 2026 Published 1h ago

Death of EncroChat dealer in prison cell

Johnpaul Digweed, a 36-year-old prisoner serving a 25-year sentence for supplying large quantities of cocaine and heroin via EncroChat, was found hanged in his cell at HMP Garth, Lancashire, in April 2024, as reported by The Daily Star.

A public report from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), which investigates all deaths in custody, concluded that there was no evidence that Digweed was at an increased or immediate risk of suicide when he died. However, the ombudsman, Adrian Usher, highlighted concerns that staff did not adhere to guidelines when conducting welfare checks, although he said he could not be certain this would have changed the outcome.

Alleged continued drug dealing in prison

The ombudsman suggested that Digweed may have been concerned about finances at the time of his death, and indicated it was "highly probable" that the class A dealer continued his criminal activities behind bars. The report stated there was "significant evidence that [Digweed] was involved in prison drug culture and he was found in possession of a mobile phone numerous times".

Digweed was initially held at HMP Liverpool before stints at Forest Bank and Leeds, and was moved to Garth in June 2022. According to the ombudsman, "throughout his time in Garth, the prison received significant intelligence that he was involved in organising drone deliveries of drugs and other illicit items and on six occasions he was found with a mobile phone in his possession".

Intelligence from the prison's security team suggested that Digweed, operating under the EncroChat alias "Diorpaw", was involved in organising drone deliveries of contraband including mobile phones into the prison. Further intelligence revealed he had threatened other prisoners.

Pressure and incidents in prison

The report highlighted that Digweed faced pressure from other inmates. In November 2023, he was assaulted in an incident captured on CCTV. Digweed claimed he tripped, but the incident was suspected to be related to drug debts.

A prisoner in an adjacent cell described Digweed's drug use and his involvement in a "right circle". The PPO report also found that risks were missed after a self-harm incident in September 2023.

Welfare and health concerns

The ombudsman raised concerns that welfare checks were not properly carried out and that there were missed opportunities to intervene. It was also noted that a laptop was confiscated and not replaced, which affected Digweed's prison life, and that his relationship with his partner was strained, as reflected in phone calls.

On the day of his death, intelligence about threats from an organised crime gang was received. Digweed was last seen during a routine count, and an observation panel was covered at various times, with staff failures noted.

The report stated that physical healthcare provided to Digweed was deemed equivalent to that in the community, but mental healthcare was described as "moderate". The PPO made recommendations for changes to prison procedures, and the Prison Service cooperated with the investigation.

The Daily Star reported that Digweed allegedly "made £500k every two months" by supplying drugs within the prison.

How each outlet told it

A framing line is our reading of that outlet's own text — an interpretation, not a quotation and not a fact we assert. Check it against what the outlet published.

Birmingham Live

Framing: Emphasizes the deceased dealer's alleged financial gain from supplying drugs to inmates while in prison. — Measured and reportorial, with sympathetic undertones regarding the death and critical of prison procedures.

as of Sep 1, 2026, 10:48 AM UTC

Facts Included:

Johnpaul Digweed, 36, was found dead in his cell at HMP Garth, Lancashire, in April 2024.
An investigation found Digweed likely made "£500k every two months" while locked up on a 25-year prison sentence for supplying vast amounts of cocaine and heroin through EncroChat.
A public report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) found there was not evidence the dad had been at a heightened or imminent risk of suicide when he died.
Ombudsman Adrian Usher identified concerns regarding staff not following guidance when completing welfare checks, although said he could not be sure this would have changed the outcome in Digweed's case.
The ombudsman said there was information that Digweed might have been worried about money at the time of his death.
The ombudsman said "throughout his time in Garth, the prison received significant intelligence that he was involved in organising drone deliveries of drugs and other illicit items and on six occasions he was found with a mobile phone in his possession".
Intelligence from the prison's security team indicated Digweed, who used the EncroChat handle "Diorpaw", was "involved in organising drone deliveries to the prison of contraband including mobile phones".
Further intelligence also found he had "threatened other prisoners".
Mr Usher said in February 2024 "an intelligence report showed that certain prisoners on C Wing, including Mr Digweed, were making about £400,000 to £500,000 every couple of months from the proceeds of contraband sent into the prison by drone".
In November 2023, CCTV showed four prisoners entering his cell and later he was found with slash injuries.
A prisoner who lived in the cell next to Digweed said the dealer "enjoyed taking cocaine in prison and could get hold of it relatively easily".
The ombudsman found there was no evidence that the prison had started suicide and self-harm support procedures, known as ACCT.
Prisoners at Garth are allowed a prison laptop, but staff removed Digweed's just days after he injured himself because of damage to the screen.
Digweed had not received a replacement laptop by the time of his death, which meant he had less control over ordering items from the prison shop, adding credit to his telephone account and choosing meals.
Recordings of Digweed's prison calls in the days before his death appeared to show his relationship with his partner was under strain.
The ombudsman report said the last time he spoke to his partner was on April 12 when he called her drunk and she asked him to call back when he had sobered up.
The staff responsible took no action.
Digweed was found dead by a prisoner.
The ombudsman's report said that on the same day as his death, the prison received intelligence from inmates that Digweed was "wanted" by organised crime gangs outside the prison and was worried about debts.
In text messages to his partner he referred to being "sick of" things.
The ombudsman found that there was a missed opportunity to identify Digweed's risk following the incident in September 2023.
The clinical reviewer concluded the healthcare Digweed received for his physical health was equivalent to what he would receive in the community.
The PPO made a number of recommendations including that the governor should show how the prison will challenge blocked observation panels to comply with local processes and put in place an assurance process to satisfy himself that all staff look through the observation panel before unlocking cells.
The Prison Service previously confirmed it would cooperate in full with the PPO investigation.
Digweed had denied being the user of the "Diorpaw" handle but Liverpool Crown Court heard messages about his kids helped identify him.
Digweed mainly appeared to trade drugs to dealers in Devon and Cornwall, though other locations across Britain were mentioned in his messages to criminals.
In his messages to other dealers, Digweed made clear his focus was on "swilling", or diluting drugs, in order to increase his profit.
One image sent to him by another criminal showed a block of cannabis labelled "Johnny Weed".
His response was: "Hahahaha lad who's done that, its only missing dig out the name. My name is Johnny Digweed init."
Digweed, previously of Harlech Road in Crosby, was arrested in March 2021 and convicted of seven counts of conspiracy to supply drugs in addition to one count of money laundering.
Prosecutors said he could be connected to the supply of at least 30 kilos of cocaine and 12 and a half kilos of heroin.
Judge David Swinnerton said Digweed was a "proud dad" who behaved in a "close, loving and supportive" way towards his family while blighting communities across the UK with drugs.

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Daily Record

Framing: Highlights the drug dealer's alleged prison earnings and his death, casting the story as a sensational true-crime narrative. — Sensational and dramatic, focusing on the dealer's lucrative prison enterprise and his death with a mix of tabloid excitement and somber reporting.

as of Sep 1, 2026, 10:16 AM UTC

Facts Included:

Johndigweed Digweed, 36, was serving a 25-year prison sentence for supplying cocaine and heroin.
He was found dead in his cell at HMP Garth, Lancashire, in April 2024.
A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) report found no evidence he was at heightened or imminent risk of suicide.
Ombudsman Adrian Usher identified concerns about staff not following guidance during welfare checks.
Intelligence indicated Digweed and others were making about £400,000 to £500,000 every couple of months from contraband flown in by drone.
Digweed used the EncroChat handle 'Diorpaw'.
He had slash injuries in November 2023 after four prisoners entered his cell; he said he fell over.
In September 2023, he self-harmed while on cocaine.
Prison staff removed Digweed's cell laptop after damage to the screen; no replacement was provided before his death.
The ombudsman's report noted a missed opportunity to identify Digweed's risk.
The final observation was that staff did not take action when the observation panel was covered.
The PPO made recommendations including an assurance process about observation panels.
Digweed was convicted of conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering.
Judge David Swinnerton described Digweed as a 'proud dad' who behaved in a 'loving, caring and supportive' manner towards his family.

Read the source article →

Liverpool Echo

Framing: Highlights the scale of the drug dealer's criminal operation ('made £500k every two months') rather than the circumstances of his death. — predominantly neutral and factual but uses dramatic quotes about his wealth and criminality in the headline.

as of Sep 1, 2026, 12:47 AM UTC

Facts Included:

EncroChat dealer Johnpaul Digweed was found dead in his cell at HMP Garth in April 2024.
He was serving a 25-year prison sentence for supplying drugs using EncroChat.
He was known by the EncroChat handle 'Diorpaw'.
The ombudsman said he was likely involved in prison drug culture and had been found with a mobile phone numerous times.
Intelligence suggested Digweed and others were making £400,000 to £500,000 every couple of months from contraband sent into the prison by drone.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman found there was no evidence Digweed had been at a heightened risk of suicide or self-harm at the time of his death.
Staff did not follow guidance when completing welfare checks.
There was a missed opportunity to identify Digweed's risk after he harmed himself in September 2023 while on cocaine.
The prison did not start suicide and self-harm support procedures (ACCT) after the September 2023 incident.
The ombudsman said there was information Digweed was worried about money and debts at the time of his death.
Digweed was found in possession of a mobile phone numerous times and was suspected of organising drone deliveries of contraband.
CCTV showed four prisoners entering his cell, and he later suffered slash injuries.
His partner said he was 'sick of' things in a text message.
The ombudsman expressed concern about a 'more widespread problem' with how staff respond to covered observation panels.

Read the source article →

Transparency & Audit Trail

1 distinct · 3 mastheads · 3 articles consulted: Birmingham Live, Daily Record, Liverpool Echo Version 1 Written 2026-09-01