A former serviceman who struggled for years to get support for his trauma-related alcoholism has died of liver failure complications in prison aged just 49.
Mark Wilkinson became notorious in Brighton after a series of bomb hoaxes and a one-night bin arson spree, all committed while drunk.
At hearing after hearing, courts were told that he had been let down by a lack of local support services.
This week, a prison death report found that healthcare workers at Lewes Prison had failed to adequately monitor him after he refused medical treatment or give him effective pain relief – but concluded his death was unavoidable.
His defence lawyer Richard Frank told the court: “He’s been an alcoholic for a long time. He’s been in rehab and was sober for three months
“But he was put in a hostel full of people with drink and drug problems and it was very difficult for him to maintain sobriety in that accommodation.
“A few weeks ago, that sobriety ended.
“He’s now with Pavilions and the plan is to try and get him into detox and then some residential placement out of Brighton.
“Millview, where people used to go is closed – the nearest facility is Elephant and Castle it seems. It’s shocking, but that’s the case.”
He was ordered into court-mandated rehab – but just two months later, he set fire to several bins in Brighton, which resulted in a six-month prison sentence for arson.
In 2021, he was back in Brighton, living at a hostel in Elm Grove which was later closed after scores of complaints from neighbours of antisocial behaviour and a residents’ fatal overdose.
There, he made yet another bomb hoax, which sparked the evacuation of the hostel and an armed police response. He ended up in the dock yet again, this time sentenced to 16 months.
He said: “This incident was a very sad decline of a man who served his country on many occasions, very bravely. He has fallen into a trap, which many of his colleagues have, of alcholism.
“He suffers from post traumatic stress disorder which isn’t surprising, given what he’s seen and what he’s gone through.”
At that point, Wilkinson had already been at Lewes Prison since the day after making the hoax call on 17 November the previous year.
When he arrived, he told a nurse he’d been drinking heavily before coming into custody and a GP prescribed him chlordiazepoxide for alcohol withdrawal.
Over the following weeks, he refused to see the GP for various reasons, and in April he even refused to go to hospital in handcuffs, saying he would go after he was released in two weeks time.
On the morning of 21 April, just days before he was due to be released, he was in good spirits – but by mid-morning he was unconscious. He was taken to the Royal Sussex in a coma and died the following day.
Despite attempts, the prison was unable to find a next of kin and his funeral took place on April 23 2022, paid for by the prison. An inquest later found he died of natural causes – internal bleeding caused by alcohol related liver disease.
A report into his death in custody published last month found the care he received was not what he would have received in the community and made a series of recommendations.
The hospital detox – known as tier four inpatient detox – which used to be provided by the NHS at Millview was decommissioned by Brighton and Hove City Council in 2016.
The service was outsourced to Cranstoun, which ran the Pavilions alcohol rehab service and whose partner Equinox ran the Elephant and Castle clinic Mr Wilkinson was hoping to be referred to in 2019.
That closed in 2022, after receiving the worst possible rating from the Care and Quality Commission.
Hospital detox for Brighton residents is now provided in Essex and Hampshire.
A council spokesperson said: “As part of the vital support we provide people experiencing challenges with long-term substance use, we commission some tier four inpatient detoxification beds – which include 24-hour support.
“This is in addition to our local residential rehabilitation services.
“The support we commission is currently delivered by specialist teams at Passmores House, in Harlow, Essex, and the Dame Carol Black Detoxification Service, in Fareham, Hampshire.
“In the last financial year 127 people were supported at Passmores House and 20 at the Dame Carol Black Detoxification Service.
“We also occasionally spot-purchase additional out-of-area inpatient detox and residential rehabilitation services on a case-by-case basis to reflect specific needs, although no such spot-purchasing was required in 2023/24.
“These commissioned services compliment the residential support provided locally, which focuses on supporting individuals after detox over a number of years.”
Why high light the ex service factor ???? I know from personal experience civvy street has a different life set but we were civvies before service and then back out to civvy street again, was the MOD to blame here ????
It’s quite a well established, multinational, fact, that ex-servicemen struggle to integrate back into civilian life due to institutionalisation.
I”ve read those supposed observations, just to clarify I was Army 1968-1982, the period of so called “difficult” to adjust is when you have 10 years and more service, that does not exclude those with other issues. the less time in service equates to LESS of an after effect, quite often the “ex Army” is used as an excuse by some even if they got thrown out “unsuitable for Military Training” thereby negating the effect of said Service. Easy to blame any and every kind of Government Organisation instead of dealing with your own issues of which Civilians Non Service deal with every day, who should they blame ???? Yes there is an after effect for longer serving and those affected by service at war, since 1962 all service is voluntary so its a choice, pre “62 it was WW1 1916-1921 Military Service Act, 1939-1945 War Service Act, 1947-1962 National Service Act, never ever Conscription as spouted so often these days. All that said, the Army has a Shyte system for people leaving, dumped on your local Jobcentre for what its worth, not their fault they have no idea what to do with ex Servicemen/women. But there is nothing stopping people making their own decisions after Army life, Plenty of ex Army around doing well without blaming the Government.
Sure thing, it’s not a 100% guarantee you will have a mental health issue after leaving the service.
One also has to consider the kind of people who would join the service, and does that make them more prone to certain behaviours.
And of course, many people enter and leave the service completely well adjusted, and lead perfectly normal lives.
But as the saying goes, doesn’t matter how many times a rock falls to the floor, it has the same chance of floating to the ceiling.
I think the prpblem is that people assume there is a line from service to civvy life, in reality it’s non existant. The sad pert is it becomes a problem when its really too late for any standard guidance to be effective, Government agencies and charities then apply patchwork on an empty frame with shit results.
Patchwork…from my experience working with patients in mental health crisis previously, I would agree with you Stan, that’s a very accurate description. I wish we could do better concerning mental health.
Astounding and so sad the support is still not there
Don’t think the MoD are responsible, however, I think what any military personnel experience whilst fighting for their country should be offered way more support…I admire anyone who puts their life on the line for queen/king & country but what does this country give them in return??? Whilst it may be the individuals choice…without these individuals who are willing to put their lives on the line, where would this country be! May he rest in peace!
There should be a tax on off license alcohol sales to raise the finance for alcohol addiction. The makers and vendors pick up the profits and society picks up the care bill.
Alcohol is one of the most heavily taxed items in the UK, partially for this reason!
I was referring to OFF SALES which are the principle source for street drinkers and the likes of Mr. Wilkinson.
There has been an explosion in the availability of alcohol which can be obtained 24/7 from corner shops, supermarkets, and even garages. I would compel alcohol to be treated in the same way as tobacco, only sold behind a secure counter. As for the heavy tax, it is already the most stolen item in supermarkets and I doubt if the thieves pay any tax of any sort.
Ah, accessibility? Yes, I would agree with you there completely. It is very easy to purchase (and steal) alcohol, and I’d go further and say the culture of acceptance around alcoholic behaviours only exacerbates the situation as well.
Off licence straight across the road from the recovery house called William collier on North Road and another just opened 50 yards down the road, it’s a liberty really.
William Collier is just supported housing, they don’t do recovery services. Unfortunately, because of the background of many of the individuals who end up in Wiliam Collier, many do have alcohol-related issues. I’m also not convinced that putting housing 96 vulnerable people together in one block is the right way to support people.
Although YMCA’s days are numbered in Brighton.
He was a harmless, friendly bloke . The police said at court that his bin fire crimes were escalating as if he was a psycho but TBF it shouldn’t be the police’s job to deal with mental health / addiction issues and the only tool they have is to lock people up.