Bilston prisoner jailed for maiming teen 'using car as weapon' dies suddenly in Worcester

Published date22 January 2022
Publication titleBirmingham Mail: Web Edition Articles (England)
Joseph Purcell, formerly from Bilston, was two years into a 14 year prison sentence at Worcestershire's infamous HMP Long Lartin for the horrific attack, just off the M5, when he died

Prison guards took the 55-year-old to hospital in Worcester, where he was declared dead on November 11, it has emerged. No cause of death has been given while an investigation is under way.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed on Purcell's death as it investigates all deaths in custody. Worcestershire's coroner has also been informed and will compile evidence for an inquest later in the year.

Purcell "used his car as a weapon" intentionally ramming his silver Volvo V70 into a blue flowery VW Beetle occupied by two women between junctions 1 and 2 of the M50 westbound carriageway at the Worcestershire-Gloucestershire border, Worcester Crown Court heard.

He drove off without stopping leaving other motorists to alert emergency services about the 19-year-old female passenger critically injured with life-changing injuries at 6.50pm on September 17, 2018. The 37-year-old woman driving the Beetle escaped uninjured but in shock.

West Mercia Police started a manhunt after the crash, releasing a photo of his Volvo, and appealing for help from the public, resulting in Purcell being arrested three days later.

Purcell, who later lived at Letterston Road, Cardiff, was found guilty for Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent and admitted dangerous driving causing serious injury in March 2019, which led to him ending up in Long Lartin's prison, renowned for housing some of the country's most dangerous criminals near...

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