Ernest Jones

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Ernest Jones,
a prisoner at HMP Doncaster,
on 8 March 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
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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 2013, Mr Ernest Jones was given a custodial sentence of 13 years
and six months for sexual offences. He died of pneumonia on 8 March 2025, at
HMP Doncaster. He was 76 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Jones’
family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Jones’ next of kin to explain the investigation
and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They did not
respond.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr Jones’
clinical care at HMP Doncaster.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Jones received at
Doncaster was of a good standard and was equivalent to that which he could have
expected to receive in the community. She made one recommendation, which was
not directly related to Mr Jones’ death, which the Head of Healthcare will wish to
address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Jones’ care.
8. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations.
9. We shared our initial report with HMPPS and the prison’s healthcare provider,
Practice Plus Group. They found no factual inaccuracies.
Adrian Usher July 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Inquest
At the inquest, held on 28 November 2025, the Coroner concluded that Mr Jones died
from natural causes.
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