A woman has criticised the Scottish Prison Service after her son died in his cell from a suspected drugs overdose, despite being on suicide watch.
An investigation has now been launched into the death of Jason Jackson, 28, from Dundee, who was jailed last week after breaching a community payback order.
He was sent to Perth Prison but was found dead in his cell on Saturday. His mother, Carol Hershaw, said: “I thought he would be safe in prison because at least he was being watched there.
“We don’t know what happened but I feel like he should have been watched more closely.”
Ms Hershaw revealed that her son’s life had been wrecked by drugs. She said: “He was like a little kid, into everything he was a six-year-old child in a man’s body.
“When he was out he was into everything because he had ADHD. He was tortured by drugs for years and still struggled but he had a heart of gold.
“And he was so artistic and good with his hands. If he had got help for the drugs he would have had a bright future.”
The Scottish Prison Service confirmed that an inmate had died in custody and the matter was now being dealt with by the police.
A fatal accident inquiry is expected to be carried out into Mr Jackson’s death and no members of staff have been suspended in relation to the incident.
Mr Jackson admitted breaching a community payback order imposed for taking and driving away a car from Morris Leslie Motor Auctions in Errol on October 30 last year, and driving on the Kingoodie to Errol Road without insurance, while on bail.
He further admitted that on August 1 in Dens Road, he attempted to pervert the course of justice and on October 29 last year, at Abernethy Road in Dundee, he committed a breach of the peace.
He was jailed as a result.
A spokesman for the Crown Office said: “The procurator fiscal has received a report in connection with the death of a 28-year-old man in Perth on September 28.
“The investigation into the death, under the direction of Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU), is ongoing and the family will continue to be kept updated in relation to and significant developments.”
Stewart Hosie, MP for Dundee East, said: “It’s always disappointing to hear about drugs getting into prisons. I am now looking into what more can be done to stop this.”
Last month, Perth prison governor Mike Inglis said authorities were clamping down on drugs in jail.
However, Mr Inglis said traditional methods of preventing drugs from entering prisons, such as dogs, were not stopping all substances from getting in.
He said HM Perth Prison is still dealing with substance misuse but highlighted the prevalence of some inmates using legal highs and the difficulties involved in that.