Inquest set for woman's death in HMP Styal

An inquest has been scheduled for the death of Alex Davies, a 25-year-old woman found unresponsive in her prison cell on Christmas Eve last year. She was at HMP Styal and had been on remand for about two months after pleading guilty to assault and criminal damage. Davies, also known as Ashley, faced additional charges of possessing a knife in public but had not entered a plea for those charges. The investigation is being conducted by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, with the inquest set to take place on October 20 this year. Her mother, Stacie Davies, shared that Alex was her best friend and they shared a close bond. She described Alex as kind and caring, noting that she had been an aspiring footballer as a child but struggled with mental health issues. Stacie emphasized that this was Alex's first time in prison. In response to Alex's death, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman offered condolences to her family and friends. The Prison Service also expressed sympathy and confirmed that an investigation is in progress, as is standard for all deaths in custody.