News
Stoke Heath prisoner found guilty of murdering his cellmate
A jury at Stafford Crown Court has convicted a prisoner of murdering Neil Ashby at HMP Stoke Heath, rejecting his claim that he was not guilty by reason of insanity.
Prison profile
HMP & YOI Stoke Heath
Category C Public (HMPPS)
Population–of 782 operational places (0%)
Last inspectedMarch 2026Full inspection
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (March 2026; report published June 2026), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were poor for purposeful activity; not sufficiently good for safety; reasonably good for respect and preparation for release.
Read our story Read the inspection report
Healthy prison tests: inspectors grade four areas from 1 (poor) to 4 (good).
Inspection history
- Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: poor · Preparation for release: reasonably good Read our story
- Safety: good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: poor · Rehabilitation and release planning: not sufficiently good Read our story
Our reporting
News
HMP Stoke Heath: inspectors find drugs widespread and too little purposeful activity
Nearly 30% of men tested positive for drugs in random tests at the Shropshire prison. Safety fell to not sufficiently good, but inspectors saw strong relationships and better preparation for release.
News
HMP Stoke Heath safe but failing to keep prisoners active, inspectors found in 2023
The inspectorate's report on HMP/YOI Stoke Heath, published in May 2023, rated the Shropshire prison good for safety but poor for purposeful activity, with many men spending as little as 90 minutes a day out of cell.