John North

OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Independent investigation into
the death of Mr John North,
a prisoner at
HMP Northumberland,
on 7 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
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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 March 2021, Mr John North was convicted of sexual offences and sentenced to
an 11-year extended sentence (ten years custody with a one-year extended licence
period).
4. Mr North died in hospital of metastatic lung cancer (spread of cancer from where it
started in the lung) on 7 August 2024, while a prisoner at HMP Northumberland. He
was 71 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr North’s family and friends.
5. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr North’s wife to explain the investigation and to
ask if she had any matters she wanted us to consider. She did not respond.
6. We shared the initial report with HM Prison and Probation Service
(HMPPS). HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
7. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer, to review Mr North’s
clinical care at HMP Northumberland. The clinical reviewer’s report is attached as
Annex 1.
8. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr North received at
Northumberland was of a good standard and equivalent to that which he could have
expected to receive in the community.
9. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr North’s
care.
10. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations.
Inquest
11. The inquest into Mr North’s death concluded on the 21 January 2025. The coroner
confirmed that Mr North died from natural causes.
Adrian Usher June 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