The suicide of a prisoner who suffocated a 20-year-old woman with clingfilm before putting her body in a taxi has raised 'concern' with the prison ombudsman.

Ahsan Hassan, formerly of Dashwood Avenue, High Wycombe, was found guilty of the murder of 20-year-old Zofia Sadowska at Reading Crown Court on April 6, 2017.

On September 18, 2016, Hassan took Ms Sadowska, a mother, to a disused kebab shop where he used cling film to suffocate her.

At about 2am, he then placed her lifeless body into a taxi to his home, convincing the driver she was drunk and alseep.

Police and paramedics were called to the property in Dashwood Avenue to reports of an attempted suicide at about 5.30am on the morning of September 19.

Hassan was arrested on the same day, charged on September 22 and sentenced to a minimum of 24 years imprisonment at Reading Crown Court on April 11, 2017.

He was moved to HMP Highpoint in Stradishall, Suffolk, in November 2021 and was found dead in his cell on February 20, 2022. 

Bucks Free Press: Hassan moved to HMP Highpoint in November 2021 and was found dead in his cell on February 20, 2022.Hassan moved to HMP Highpoint in November 2021 and was found dead in his cell on February 20, 2022. (Image: Newsquest)

A report from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman detailed that Hassan had a history of self-harm and was supported by the Prison Service suicide and self-harm prevention procedures.

In the report, Kimberley Bingham said she was "satisfied that staff at Highpoint could not have prevented [his] death," as Hassan seemed more settled during his three months there.

Ms Bingham did, however, say she was "concerned about the delay in going into Mr Hassan's cell on the evening he was found hanging".

The report says that the prison's staff did not respond appropriately when they found that Hassan had covered his observation panel, which resulted in a five-minute delay before they entered the cell.

Ms Bingham added: "We cannot say whether the delay affected the outcome for Mr Hassan, but we know that in a medical emergency, a delay of a few minutes may be critical."

If you need urgent mental health support call NHS 111 and select option 2 or the Samaritans on 116 123. Both services are available 24 hours 7 days a week.