John Whitehead

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Independent investigation into
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
the death of Mr John Whitehead,
a prisoner at HMP Littlehey,
on 31 October 2024
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© Crown copyright, 2025
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Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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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 Whitehead was sentenced to 17 years in prison for sexual
offences. He died in hospital of lung disease on 31 October 2024, while a prisoner
at HMP Littlehey. He was 83 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr
Whitehead’s family and friends.
4. The prison was unable to contact Mr Whitehead’s next of kin as they could not trace
their current contact details. Therefore, the Ombudsman’s office did not contact
anyone about the investigation into his death.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Whitehead’s clinical care at Littlehey.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Whitehead received at
Littlehey was of a reasonable standard and equivalent to that which he could have
expected to receive in the community. The clinical reviewer made recommendations
not related to Mr Whitehead’s death that the Head of Healthcare will wish to
address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Whitehead’s
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,
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. They found no factual
inaccuracies.
Adrian Usher March 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Inquest
At the inquest, held on 22 August 2025, the Coroner concluded that Mr Whitehead 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
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