Former prison officer guilty of perjury during inquest

A former prison officer from HMP Manchester has been found guilty of perjury.

Following a lengthy trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Ray Cook, 54, was found guilty of perjury, after wilfully making a statement which he knew to be false during an inquest.

John Ahmed died on 29 July 2015 after being restrained by prison officer Cook and a second prison officer.

As is standard procedure, Cook provided an account shortly after Mr Ahmed’s death, of what had occurred that day.

An inquest followed in March 2017 where Cook gave evidence. Having heard the evidence given by the prison officer, which conflicted with his earlier accounts, the coroner referred the matter to Greater Manchester Police to investigate if the officer had perjured himself when giving evidence.

The prosecution case was that Cook had created differing versions of the events that occurred that day, prior to submitting his account to prison authorities. The account he submitted stated that Mr Ahmed was walking into a cell when he suddenly stopped and turned around in a very hostile and aggressive manner, before being restrained.

When giving evidence at the inquest, he gave a different version of events, claiming that Mr Ahmed had raised his arm and punched him before being restrained. This was at odds with his earlier account where no punch was mentioned. He also said Mr Ahmed had turned 45 degrees towards him, prior to being restrained, again, this was different to his prior account.

Having heard the evidence put forward by the prosecution, the jury found Cook guilty of perjury.

Sentencing will take place on 5 July 2024.

Carl Miles, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said:” Ray Cook was in a trusted position as a prison officer at HMP Manchester.

“Following the death of John Ahmed, Cook gave an account, which he then deviated from in the inquest that followed.

“He wilfully perjured himself at the inquest, in an attempt to bolster his claim that the restraint of Mr Ahmed was necessary and lawful. This has prolonged the grieving process for Mr Ahmed’s family, and I would like to express my sympathies for their loss and for the additional distress caused by the subversion of a process designed to help families understand what has happened to their loved one.”