Andrew Thompson

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Andrew
Thompson,
a prisoner at HMP/YOI
Doncaster, on 9 January 2025
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
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OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
© Crown copyright, 2026
This report is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0. To view this licence,
visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
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1. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman aims to make a significant contribution to
safer, fairer custody and community supervision. One of the most important ways in
which we work towards that aim is by carrying out independent investigations into
deaths, due to any cause, of prisoners, young people in detention, residents of
approved premises and detainees in immigration centres.
2. If my office is to best assist His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) in
ensuring the standard of care received by those within service remit is appropriate,
our recommendations should be focused, evidenced and viable. This is especially
the case if there is evidence of systemic failure.
3. In December 2024, Mr Andrew Thompson was remanded to prison for assaulting a
police officer. He was not sentenced prior to his death. Mr Thompson died of a
hemopericardium (the presence of blood in the pericardial sac around the heart) on
9 January 2025, at HMP Doncaster. He was 41 years old. We offer our
condolences to Mr Thompson’s family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Thompson’s next of kin to explain the
investigation and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They
had no questions but asked for a copy of our report.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Thompson’s clinical care at HMP Doncaster. The clinical reviewer’s report is
attached as Annex 1.
6. The PPO investigator and the clinical reviewer jointly interviewed six members of
staff by video conference on 12 March, 15 and 16 May 2025. The transcripts of the
interviews are attached as Annex 2.
7. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Thompson received at
Doncaster was equivalent to what he could have expected to receive in the
community. She found that the mental health team reviewed Mr Thompson
regularly. He was discussed at the Multi-Professional Complex Case Conference
meeting and a care plan was agreed. The clinical reviewer also noted that the
records showed evidence of good working relationships between healthcare, mental
health and custodial teams. The clinical reviewer did not make any
recommendations related to Mr Thompson’s death.
8. Ms Wallis investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Thompson’s care.
9. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations.
10. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
11. Mr Thompson’s family received a copy of the initial report. They did not make any
comments.
Adrian Usher September 2025
Prison and Probation Ombudsman
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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Inquest
At the inquest held on 9 December 2025, the coroner concluded Mr Thompson died of
natural causes.
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Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
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