Gerald Sherwin

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Gerald Sherwin,
a prisoner at HMP Elmley,
on 25 September 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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© 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 July 2024, Mr Gerald Sherwin was charged with sexual offences and remanded
into custody. He died in hospital of pneumonia and congestive cardiac failure on 25
September 2024, while a prisoner at HMP Elmley. He was 72 years old. We offer
our condolences to his family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Sherwin’s next of kin, his brother, to explain
the investigation and to ask if he had any matters he wanted us to consider. He
asked why he was not informed of Mr Sherwin’s imprisonment at Elmley, given that
he was in poor health. Elmley told us that they would only contact a prisoner’s next
of kin if he became seriously ill. They also said that Mr Sherwin did not provide his
next of kin’s contact details and they had to contact the police for assistance in
contacting him once Mr Sherwin became seriously unwell. Mr Sherwin’s brother
also had concerns about his medical treatment at Elmley.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Sherwin’s clinical care at Elmley.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Sherwin received at HMP
Elmley was of a good quality and equivalent to that which he could have expected
to receive in the community. He found that Mr Sherwin received appropriate care for
his various medical conditions and healthcare staff recognised and acted on Mr
Sherwin’s episodes of clinical deterioration quickly. The clinical reviewer did not
make any recommendations.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Sherwin’s
care. We did not identify any non-clinical issues of concern and 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 Sherwin’s family received a copy of the draft report. They raised an issue that
does not impact on the factual accuracy of this report and has been addressed
through separate correspondence.
10. At an inquest on 28 May 2025, the Coroner concluded that Mr Sherwin died of
natural causes.
Adrian Usher April 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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