Claim over custody death of London riots gingerbread man thief James Best

The family of a man who died in custody after stealing a gingerbread man from a looted bakery during the London riots have launched a High Court claim over his death.

James Best, 37, of Croydon, London, was in Wandsworth Prison in September 2011 awaiting sentence when he suffered a heart attack.

His foster mother and brother, Dolly and Owen Daniel, claim St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust and the London Ambulance Service breached their duties under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to life. They also allege a breach of Article 3 which says nobody should be subject to “inhuman or degrading treatment”.