A personal trainer who was subject to a “horrific” prison sentence died after being told he would be returned to jail.

Francis Williams committed suicide after becoming homeless and being told that he would be recalled to prison, an inquest heard.

His death comes after he was subject to a controversial “imprisonment for public protection” (IPP) sentence which meant he “lived in constant fear” of being re-imprisoned at any time. 

The inquest jury concluded that the IPP sentence contributed to his death.

Francis, 43, from Brighton, was given the controversial sentence in 2006 for a street robbery but was released from prison in 2009.

He remained out of prison until 2021 when he was recalled in part following problems experienced during lockdown.

Assistant Coroner Nick Armstrong KC said Francis “always struggled with that sentence, believing that he would never be free of it”.

After being re-released in April 2022, Francis struggled with alcohol abuse and was evicted from specialist accommodation in Bognor in January 2023.

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When probation services began to take steps to recall him to prison, Francis told his probation officer that he intended to commit suicide.

He was found dead in a tent in the sunken gardens in Bognor the next day.

The jury inquest, sitting in Chichester, concluded on Tuesday, March 5, that Francis committed suicide and that his death was in part caused by or contributed to by his IPP sentence.

Francis’s sister Suzanne Rodrigues said: “Francis lived a large portion of his life under an IPP sentence, battling the impact that this had on his day-to-day existence and his mental health. He was absolutely terrified of being recalled.

“As a family, we are keen to continue to raise awareness of the consequences of the IPP sentencing regime and the effect it continues to have on other individuals who are still in a similar position to the one Francis found himself if.

“Whilst nothing can bring my brother back, I do hope that lessons are learned and that in particular, the Ministry of Justice takes steps to re-evaluate the impact of IPP sentences on individuals and how vulnerable they are.

“IPP sentences are not just a sentence imposed on an individual but on that person’s entire family.”

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice called IPP sentences a “stain on the justice system”, adding they had taken “decisive action” to curtail licence periods for offenders.

The inquest also raised concerns about how Francis was dealt with by Sussex Police, however the jury concluded no wrongdoing on the force’s part.

A police spokeswoman said: “An inquest was held which rightly scrutinised the involvement which Francis had with the emergency services in the weeks leading to his death.

“Sussex Police fully supported this process throughout.

“The coroner’s jury found that police had acted appropriately and that their actions did not contribute to his death.”

IPPs were introduced in 2005 and scrapped in 2012 but not retrospectively and thousands of people subject to such a sentence are still in prison.