Peter Wrigglesworth

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Peter
Wrigglesworth,
a prisoner at HMP Full Sutton,
on 21 March 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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© 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
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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 19 April 2024, Mr Peter Wrigglesworth was sentenced to 23 years and three
months in prison for sexual offences. He died in hospital of decompensated
cirrhosis (complications of advanced liver disease) on 21 March 2025, while a
prisoner at HMP Full Sutton. He was 68 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr
Wrigglesworth’s family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Wrigglesworth’s next of kin to explain the
investigation and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They
had no questions but asked for a copy of our report.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Wrigglesworth’s clinical care at HMP Full Sutton. The clinical reviewer’s report is
attached as Annex 1.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Wrigglesworth received at
Full Sutton was equivalent to what he could have expected to receive in the
community. She found that healthcare staff maintained effective communication
with hospital staff throughout Mr Wrigglesworth’s admission and regularly discussed
his care needs at the prison’s multi-disciplinary meetings. The clinical reviewer
made no recommendations.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr
Wrigglesworth’s care. We make no recommendations.
8. Mr Wrigglesworth’s next of kin received a copy of the draft report. They pointed out
some factual inaccuracies. This report has been amended accordingly.
9. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
10. This version of my report, published on my website, has been amended to remove
the names of staff and prisoners involved in my investigation.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman August 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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Inquest
At the inquest held on 22 October 2025, the coroner concluded that Mr Wrigglesworth died
of natural causes.
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
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