Michael Whittemore

OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Michael
Whittemore,
a prisoner at HMP Isle of Wight,
on 23 July 2023.
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, 2026
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 22 July 2019, Mr Michael Whittemore was convicted of rape and sentenced to
13 years in prison. He was sent to HMP Nottingham.
4. Mr Whittemore died of carcinomatosis caused by carcinoma of the head of the
pancreas (pancreatic cancer), on 23 July 2023, at HMP Isle of Wight. He was 52
years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Whittemore’s family and friends.
5. The PPO family liaison officer wrote to Mr Whittemore’s next of kin to explain the
investigation and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. Mr
Whittemore’s next of kin was concerned about the clinical care Mr Whittemore
received prior to his death. These concerns have been addressed in the clinical
review report.
6. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Whittemore’s clinical care at HMP Isle of Wight.
7. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Whittemore received at Isle
of Wight was of a good standard and equivalent to what he could have expected to
receive in the community. She found that healthcare staff at Isle of Wight provided
good person-centred care, planning and treatment for Mr Whittemore. The clinical
reviewer made recommendations not related to Mr Whittemore’s death that the
Head of Healthcare will wish to address.
8. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr
Whittemore’s care. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. 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. HMPPS also pointed out some factual inaccuracies with the clinical review. The
investigator passed these onto the clinical reviewer, who removed the paragraph
relating to the events of 31 May 2023.
Adrian Usher April 2024
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Inquest
At the inquest held on the 28 November 2025 the coroner concluded that Mr Whittemore
died of natural causes.
2 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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