Scots knifeman found dead in jail cell as probe launched into death

Reese Fairgrieve, from Glenrothes, Fife, was found dead in his cell at Perth Prison on Sunday morning.

An investigation has been launched after a prisoner was found dead in his jail cell at a Scots prison.

Reese Fairgrieve, 23, was found on Sunday morning at HMP Perth where he was being held.

It is understood that his death is being treated as drugs-related however enquiries into the circumstances of his passing remain ongoing.

Fairgrieve, from Glenrothes, Fife, was previously jailed for causing a drunken rammy in the kitchen of a McDonald’s restaurant.

He had gone into the fast food joint in the early hours of August 25, 2018, and began throwing food on the floor.

When he was asked to stop by workers, he became aggressive and began threatening staff before throwing a drink at one employee.

The prisoner then entered the kitchen and began wrestling with staff who were left horrified after a lock-knife fell from his pocket.

It was swiftly moved out of his reach and police soon arrived on scene to arrest him.

He admitted being in possession of the blade, making threats of violence, shouting and swearing and challenging shocked onlookers to a fight.

Fairgrieve was sent back to prison to serve 180 days of a previous jail term and given a further 208 days behind bars for the August offence.

He was also convicted at Inverness Sheriff Court in May 2019 after being found in possession of a knife, a knuckle duster and cocaine.

The young man was ordered to perform 300 hours of unpaid work.

It is understood that Fairgrieve was a remand prisoner awaiting trial.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police were informed of the death of a prisoner at HM Prison Perth around 12pm on Sunday, 13 September, 2020.

“There does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”