David Moyle

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr David Moyle,
a prisoner at HMP Littlehey,
on 28 August 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
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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 January 2019, Mr David Moyle was sentenced to twelve years in prison for
sexual offences. He died of pneumonia on 28 August 2024 in hospital, while a
prisoner at HMP Littlehey. He was 81 years old. We offer our condolences to those
who knew him.
4. The Ombudsman office did not contact Mr Moyle’s next of kin at their request.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer, to review Mr Moyle’s
clinical care at Littlehey.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Moyle received at Littlehey
was of a reasonable standard and was at least equivalent to that which he could
have expected to receive in the community. He found that healthcare staff
appropriately responded when Mr Moyle’s health deteriorated. The clinical reviewer
made recommendations which were not related to Mr Moyle’s death but which the
Head of Healthcare will want to address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Moyle’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 Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies. Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS
Foundation Trust pointed out some factual inaccuracies with the clinical review. The
investigator passed these onto the clinical reviewer who amended their report.
10. At an inquest held on 11 June 2025, the Coroner concluded that Mr Moyle died of
natural causes.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman August 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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