Gordon Weis

OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Gordon Weis,
a prisoner at HMP The Verne,
on 5 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
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
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
Where we have identified any third-party copyright information you will need to obtain permission
from the copyright holders concerned.
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
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. On 8 June 2017, Mr Gordon Weis was sentenced to eight years in prison for sex
offences. He died from pneumonia on 5 August 2024, while a prisoner at HMP The
Verne. He was 72 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Weis’ family and
friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Weis’ next of kin to explain the investigation
and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They declined further
involvement in the investigation.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer, to review Mr Weis’
clinical care at The Verne.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Weis received at The Verne
was of a high standard and was at least equivalent to that which he could have
expected to receive in the community. He found that healthcare staff managed Mr
Weis’ care using a co-ordinated approach. The clinical reviewer made no
recommendations.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Weis’ care.
8. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern and we make no
recommendations.
9. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
10. Mr Weis’ family received a copy of the draft report. They did not make any
comments.
11. At an inquest held on 14 August 2025, the Coroner concluded that Mr Weis died of
natural causes.
Adrian Usher August 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
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