Ian Mattocks

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Ian Mattocks,
a prisoner at HMP High Down,
on 4 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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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 May 2024, Mr Ian Mattocks was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for sexual
offences. He died in hospital of advanced alcoholic liver disease on 4 September,
while a prisoner at HMP High Down. He was 76 years old. We offer our
condolences to Mr Mattocks’ family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office contacted Mr Mattocks’ wife to explain the investigation
and to ask if she had any matters she wanted us to consider. She had some
questions about Mr Mattocks’ health care which have been addressed in the clinical
review.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Mattocks’ clinical care at High Down.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Mattocks received at High
Down was of a good standard and equivalent to that which he could have expected
to receive in the community. The clinical reviewer made several recommendations
not related to Mr Mattocks’ death that the Head of Healthcare will wish to address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Mattocks’
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,
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. They found no factual
inaccuracies. The healthcare provider made representations about one of the
recommendations in the clinical review report, which has been removed. The
revised clinical review report is annexed to this report.
10. We sent a copy of our initial report to Mr Mattocks’ wife. She did not notify us of any
factual inaccuracies.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman April 2025
Inquest
The inquest, held on 14 May 2025, concluded that Mr Mattocks died from natural causes.
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