A mother has paid tribute to her “very bright” son, Shane Richard Davies, in an inquest into his death. The 33-year-old prisoner was frustrated at being denied his prescribed antidepressant medication while in custody, the first day of his inquest revealed. In August 2022, Shane was found unresponsive with a ligature around his neck in his HMP Cardiff cell and passed away in the hospital later that month. Before his time in Cardiff prison, Shane had been in HMP Bristol where he was denied two types of mental health medication that he had been prescribed. His mother, Karen Davies, described Shane as having had a good upbringing in Aberystwyth and being close to his two younger brothers. Shane was interested in skateboarding, roller-skating, cycling, and spoke both Russian and English fluently. His mother highlighted Shane’s struggles with dyslexia and his academic challenges, which led to frustration in completing school work. Shane faced drug problems in his teenage years, which continued into adulthood. Despite his issues, he was described as being vibrant and social, enjoying activities with friends and pursuing artistic interests. Shane’s life took a darker turn with involvement in drug-related incidents, which ultimately led to his imprisonment for dealing drugs. Throughout his life, Shane struggled with alcohol, drugs, and mental health issues, exacerbated by the loss of his father in 2011. Despite his struggles, his mother noted that Shane did not express suicidal tendencies, even during his final prison sentence. Shane’s experience at HMP Bristol revealed that he was not consistently taking his prescribed medications for mental health conditions including antidepressants and antipsychotics. His withdrawal symptoms were managed with substitute therapy, but he expressed frustration at not receiving his prescribed medications. The inquest highlighted the challenges of providing mental health care in prison settings, where the use of medications can be complex due to potential misuse. The later stages of the inquest will explore Shane’s time at HMP Cardiff, shedding light on the broader systemic issues surrounding mental health care for prisoners. The inquest continues as efforts are made to understand the circumstances surrounding Shane’s untimely death and to address any shortcomings in his care.