Michael Crews

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Michael Crews,
a prisoner at HMP Oakwood,
on 4 June 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
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
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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. On 24 July 2020, Mr Michael Crews was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex
offences against a child. He died from multiple organ failure on 4 June 2024 while a
prisoner at HMP Oakwood. His death was caused by cholecystitis (inflammation of
the gallbladder). He also had type 2 diabetes which contributed to but did not cause
his death. He was 75 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Crews’ family and
friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Crews’ next of kin to explain the investigation
and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They did not
respond.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr Crews’
clinical care at HMP Oakwood.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Crews received at
Oakwood was of a reasonable standard and was equivalent to that which he could
have expected to receive in the community. She found that healthcare staff did not
always record or calculate a National Early Warning Score (NEWS2, a tool used to
detect and respond to clinical deterioration) for Mr Crews. The prison has since
addressed this concern. The clinical reviewer made a number of recommendations
which were not directly related to Mr Crews’ death but which the Head of
Healthcare will want to address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Crews’ care.
We did not identify any non-clinical learning 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.
Adrian Usher April 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
9. At an inquest held on 10 June 2025, the Coroner concluded that Mr Crews died of
natural causes.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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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