Garth Walker

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Garth Walker,
a prisoner at HMP Altcourse, on
17 March 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
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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 2016, Mr Garth Walker received two sentences of imprisonment for
seven years and 18-months to be served consecutively for sexual offences. He died
of congestive heart failure (when the heart does not pump blood sufficiently well)
and ischaemic heart disease (caused by narrowed heart arteries) on 17 March
2024, in hospital, while a prisoner at HMP Altcourse. He was 77 years old. We offer
our condolences to Mr Walker’s family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Walker’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 Walker’s
clinical care at Altcourse.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Walker received at
Altcourse was of a reasonable standard and equivalent to that which he could have
expected to receive in the community. The clinical reviewer recognised areas of
good practice. She also made recommendations, which did not impact on her
assessment of equivalence, that the Head of Healthcare will wish to address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Walker’s
care. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no
recommendations.
8. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
9. Mr Walker’s next of kin received a copy of the draft report. They did not make any
comments.
10. At the inquest held on 15 April 2024, the Coroner concluded that Mr Walker died of
natural causes.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman October 2024
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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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
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE