David Kelly

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr David Kelly,
a prisoner at HMP Whatton,
on 9 June 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, 2025
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 July 1987, Mr David Kelly was sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted
murder. He died in hospital of oesophageal cancer on 9 June 2025, while a prisoner
at HMP Whatton. He was 62 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Kelly’s
family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Kelly’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 Kelly’s
clinical care at HMP Whatton.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Kelly received at Whatton
was of a very high standard and at least equivalent to that which he could have
expected to receive in the community. The clinical reviewer made one
recommendation about making timely hospital referrals but was satisfied that the
delay in this case did not affect the outcome for Mr Kelly.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Kelly’s care.
8. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations.
9. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Services (HMPPS) and
Practice Plus Group, the healthcare provider. They did not find any factual
inaccuracies.
10. Mr Kelly’s next of kin received a copy of the draft report. They did not make any
comments.
11. At the inquest, held on 28 August 2025, the Coroner concluded that Mr Kelly died
from natural causes.
Adrian Usher November 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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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