Prisoner David Ball sues UK state for alleged humiliation

David Ball, a prisoner serving a life sentence for a crossbow murder, is seeking approximately $13,000 in compensation from the British state. Ball, 56, was convicted in 2019 for the killing of Lee Atkins following a traffic altercation in Bootle.

The lawsuit follows an incident in a high-security prison in Manchester. Ball alleges he was humiliated and his dignity affronted when a guard insulted him during a physical intervention. According to court documents, officials attempted to move Ball to another module due to suspicions he was intimidating other inmates to obtain medication. Ball reportedly resisted, threatening self-harm with a kettle and a blade.

Ball claims that during the struggle, his arm was forced behind his back and he was struck, resulting in injuries to his arm and knee and a loss of consciousness. He alleges that when he stated his arm felt broken, a guard responded, ‘Stop complaining, you idiot.’

The Ministry of Justice has rejected the claim, stating that the comment was not intended to humiliate and that officers used only ‘reasonably necessary force’ because Ball posed a danger to himself and others. The case is set to be heard by a Manchester county court.