THE director of a privately-run secure training unit where a teenager died said the use of physical restraint on young inmates who disobeyed orders was lawful at the time.

Trevor Wilson-Smith, who described the practice as a “structured hug”, told an inquest yesterday: “If there was any doubt, I would not have done it.”

He said restraints could be used to “maintain compliance”, despite appearing in breach of the unit’s contract with the Youth Justice Board, his own rules and those governing the use of what is known as physical control in care (PCC).

The director of Hassockfield Secure Training Centre, near Medomsley, County Durham, run by Serco, said the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act was the overriding legislation.

He said it gave care officers the authority to use “reasonable force to maintain good order and discipline”.

Mr Wilson-Smith was giving evidence at a hearing in Easington into the death of Adam Rickwood, 14, who became the youngest person to die in custody in modern times when he was found hanged in his room at the unit in August 2004.

Adam was left with a bleeding nose hours earlier after a now-illegal nose distraction method – which involves a short sharp burst to the base of the nose with two fingers – was used on him while he was carried face-down to his cell by four officers.

The inquest has heard that he had been restrained for refusing to obey an order to go to his room after a dispute, but was not being violent.

The jury has been told that secure training centre rules governing PCC allowed it in only specific circumstances – to prevent trainees from escaping custody, from harming themselves or others or causing damage to property.

It was pointed out to Mr Wilson- Smith that the director’s rules drawn up in April 2002 stipulated that PCC could not be used for non-compliance – a clause echoed in Serco’s contract with the Youth Justice Board.

But Mr Wilson-Smith said the use of physical restraint was widely used in secure training centres at the time and had been sanctioned by the Youth Justice Board.

The hearing continues.