Nicholas Halling

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Nicholas Halling,
a prisoner at HMP Gartree,
on 29 July 2025
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, 2026
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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 20 April 2006, Mr Nicholas Halling was convicted of murder and sentenced to
life imprisonment. He was sent to HMP Bedford, and later to HMP Wakefield.
4. On 6 September 2022, Mr Halling was transferred to HMP Gartree.
5. Mr Halling died of myocardial infarction (heart attack) caused by ischaemic heart
disease (reduced blood supply to heart) on 29 July 2025, at Gartree. He was 55
years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Halling’s family and friends.
6. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Halling’s family to explain the investigation
and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They had no issues
but asked for a copy of our report.
7. We also shared the initial report with Mr Halling’s family. They did not make any
comments.
8. We shared the initial report with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies. NHSE (Midlands) pointed out some
factual inaccuracies with the clinical review. The investigator passed these onto the
clinical reviewer who amended their report.
9. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr Halling’s
clinical care at Gartree. The clinical reviewer’s report was attached as Annex 1.
10. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Halling received at Gartree
was of a reasonable standard and equivalent to that which he could have expected
to receive in the community. She made seven recommendations, not related to Mr
Halling’s death, that the Head of Healthcare will wish to address.
11. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Halling’s
care.
12. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations.
Inquest
13. The inquest into Mr Halling’s death concluded on the 29 December 2025. The
coroner confirmed that Mr Halling died of natural causes.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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Adrian Usher April 2026
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
2 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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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