Brian Nichols

OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Independent investigation into
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
the death of Mr Brian Nichols,
a prisoner at HMP Whatton,
on 23 January 2024
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
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
© Crown copyright, 2024
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
Where we have identified any third-party copyright information you will need to obtain permission
from the copyright holders concerned.
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
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. On 31 July 2007, Mr Brian Nichols received an indeterminate public protection
sentence for making indecent photographs of children. He was recalled to prison on
17 February 2016 for breaching his licence. He died from pulmonary emboli (when
blood clots block a blood vessel in the lungs) on 23 January 2024 while a prisoner
at HMP Whatton. This was caused by deep vein thrombosis (when a blood clot
forms in a deep vein in the body) and the pathologist noted that it was a sudden and
unexpected death. Mr Nichols was 65 years old. We offer our condolences to his
family and friends.
4. The PPO family liaison officer wrote to Mr Nichols’ 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 Nichols’
clinical care at HMP Whatton.
6. As part of our investigation, the PPO investigator and the clinical reviewer
conducted interviews with two members of healthcare staff and the Head of
Healthcare.
7. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Nichols received at HMP
Whatton was of a good standard overall and was equivalent to that which he could
have expected to receive in the community. The clinical reviewer made two
recommendations which are not related to Mr Nichols’ death but which the Head of
Healthcare will want to address.
8. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Nichols’
care.
9. We did not identify any significant non-clinical learning and 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 Nichols’ family received a copy of the draft report. They did not make any
comments.
12. At the inquest held on 26 September 2024, the coroner concluded that Mr Nichols
died of natural causes.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Adrian Usher October 2024
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
2 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
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
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE