Carlington Spencer
Carlington Spencer, 38, known to friends as Jammy, grew up in Jamaica and worked as a metal fabricator and bar manager; his family, including his sister Shameika Spencer and former wife Laura Burkey, remember him as loved and missed. He became ill at Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre near Swinderby, Lincolnshire, in September 2017, with slurred speech, a drooping face and collapses. An inquest jury found that staff initially suspected drug use, did not search his room or check on him overnight, and did not call an ambulance until the next morning, and that his diabetes was poorly managed and stroke symptoms were not recognised. He was taken to hospital, moved to Nottingham, and died there on October 3, 2017, with the cause given as stroke, and the health trust has apologised.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The inquest jury found that staff at Morton Hall failed to recognise stroke symptoms, poorly managed his diabetes and delayed calling an ambulance until the next morning, while the Senior Coroner for Lincolnshire recorded the death as natural from a stroke.
Reported by: inquest jury; Senior Coroner for Lincolnshire (medical examiner or coroner).