Joe Paraskeva’s mother: why cuts mean others like my son will end up criminalised
Joe Paraskeva’s mother Linda Morgan with a picture of her son during his younger years. Photograph: Josh Loeb
The mother of a mentally ill man serving an indefinite term of imprisonment has said she fears the government’s cuts programme will lead to even more people with mental health problems spending time behind bars.
Joe Paraskeva, 21, pleaded guilty to having committed arson at a secure psychiatric ward run by East London NHS Foundation Trust in the grounds of the Homerton Hospital.
The bipolar affective disorder sufferer had gone to the ward seeking help, but in a Kafkaesque twist he found himself criminalised after he became distressed and made a failed escape bid by trying to burn a hole in a door.
Despite the fact that two days prior to this incident Mr Paraskeva had been sectioned, he was henceforth treated like a mentally well person and taken to Stoke Newington Police Station, where he was charged.
He has since spent time in prison and in Chelmsford Young Offenders Institute.
“Joe was too frightened to leave his cell in prison,” Ms Morgan said. “He stopped eating for a long time. Prison was not a good place for him.”
Mr Paraskeva is currently in a secure psychiatric hospital.
“He’s now slowly piecing things together,” Ms Morgan said. “He knows about the campaign. I think it has helped him keep going.”
Ms Morgan’s campaign, which she publicises through the website www.justiceforjoe.org.uk has won support from organisations working with people with mental health problems.
A landscape gardener by profession, she said she was taking a stand, not just for her son but to stop the criminalisation of mental health patients more widely.
She said: “The staff that I talked to at Chelmsford Young Offenders Institute, including the governor himself, said 60 or 70 per cent plus of the people who were there had some kind of mental health problem.
“With all the cuts, there are going to be many more people suffering from depression, and more young people as well, because there are a lot more young people who can’t get work.”
Mr Paraskeva’s appeal is expected to be heard in the Royal Courts of Justice later this year.
“The barrister will I assume be talking about how Joe was actually ill at the time of the offence, which is pretty obvious to me,” said Ms Morgan. “He put himself in hospital voluntarily.
“When he wanted to leave the next day, they detained him.
“I assumed, and I think the public would assume then, that the NHS could look after him.
“They detained him; that meant he was a danger to himself and others. He wasn’t responsible for his actions.”
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said they could not comment on the specifics of Mr Paraskeva’s case but added: “It is vital that those with mental health issues are given a fair trial and we have a range of measures to ensure this basic right is upheld.
“Those deemed by a judge to be medically unfit to enter a plea – after being examined by two medial experts – cannot be made to stand trial, until they are fit to do so. These decisions can be appealed by either side.
“The court is also under a duty to check throughout a case that all parties understand what is going on, which is why court and prison staff are trained to identify learning difficulties and mental health issues.”
An East London NHS Foundation Trust spokeswoman said: “The ward in question was fully staffed at the time of the incident involving JP.
“East London NHS Foundation Trust services are currently fully staffed and our resources are appropriate for our patient needs.
“The Trust also has a well developed nurse bank system and the staff can draw extra resources if needed in any clinical situation.
“Because of our duty of confidentiality to patients, it is the policy of East London NHS Foundation Trust, and is generally the policy of NHS, not to discuss any aspect of any individual medical details.
“The police make a decision about whether to arrest an individual. Ms Morgan has made a formal complaint and the Trust has responded.
“This is a very difficult time for both Ms Morgan and her son. The Trust has been in contact with Ms Morgan and will continue to try to resolve her complaints and concerns around the management of her son’s case.”
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