Myatt officer investigated for previous restraint, inquest hears

One of the custody officers who was restraining Gareth Myatt when he died was investigated a year earlier in 2003 over his approach to behaviour management, a court has heard.

The inquest into Myatt’s death at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre heard how another child, Boy A, had to receive hospital treatment when he began to choke while being restrained. David Beadnall, together with two other officers, had used the double seated embrace, the hold used on Myatt when he died, which has now been banned.

Beadnall was internally investigated for using pain-inducing “distraction” techniques too often, the court heard. Documents from Rainsbrook showed his use of such methods decreased after he was supervised, but Beadnall told the court he had no recollection of the probe.

Dexter Dias, representing Myatt’s family, said that after Gareth died, Boy A told police that he had shouted out that he could not breathe during his restraint, but the officer had “squeezed harder”.

Dias asked Beadnall: “Is that what happened to Gareth Myatt?”

Beadnall replied: “No, and it didn’t happen to this other lad either.”

Dias said Beadnall had both boys in a head lock – an unauthorised move. Beadnall denied the charge.

The court heard how Beadnall, who is six foot two and heavily built, was in charge of the block at the centre, near Rugby, on the night of Myatt’s death. He and colleagues Diane Smith and David Bailey had restrained the four foot ten teenager, who weighed six and a half stone, after he became disruptive.

The inquest continues.

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