25 April 2023 , 18:35
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A prisoner who died in jail may have been killed by a super-strength batch of hooch.
The inmate, whose identity has not been given, died at HMP Guys Marsh in Dorset last year, a prison report into illegal brewing in UK prisons disclosed.
Lags at Guys Marsh in particular were outlined for prison brewing, with hand sanitiser and even cleaning fluid reportedly used in strains.
Illegally-brewed alcohol is a common problem across the country's prison network, as brew-your-own inmates use a combination of fruit, bread and water to make the illegal hooch.
In some jails, the problem has become so rife that fruit has had to be rationed and at one jail marmite was taken off the menu as it was used to help kick start the fermentation process.
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There were 80 discoveries of illegal hooch made at Guys Marsh prison last year (stock image) (Corbis via Getty Images)But a report into HMP Guys Marsh said that inmates had been throwing toxic substances into their brew to act as a "kicker" to give the hooch extra strength.
However, the mixtures can cause serious health problems to those who consume it and one batch of highly toxic hooch is believed to be linked to the death of an inmate last year.
A report by the prison's Independent Monitoring Board, said: "The brewing of illicit alcohol (hooch) continued to be a challenge for staff.
"Prisoners have found multiple substances, some of which were highly dangerous and toxic, to act as 'kickers' for the fermentation of alcohol. Hand sanitiser and cleaning fluids were two liquids used.
"It is a matter of considerable regret that one death in custody may have been attributable to drinking a toxic hooch concoction."
Across the whole of the prison network there were 8,703 find of illegally brewed hooch last year, more than double the figure five years ago.
There were 80 discoveries of illegal hooch made at Guys Marsh prison last year, a rise of 21 percent on the 66 finds in the previous 12 months.