Richard Keeling

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Richard Keeling,
a prisoner at HMP Stafford,
on 17 May 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
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 14 February 2022, Mr Richard Keeling was convicted of sexual offences and
sentenced to 13 years in prison.
4. On 17 May 2024, Mr Keeling died of progression of chronic myelomonocytic
leukaemia while a prisoner at HMP Stafford. He was 73 years old. We offer our
condolences to Mr Keeling’s family and friends.
5. The Ombudsman’s office contacted Mr Keeling’s next of kin to explain the
investigation and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They
did not respond.
6. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Keeling’s clinical care at Stafford.
7. The clinical reviewer concluded that the care Mr Keeling received at Stafford was of
a good standard and at least equivalent to what he could have expected to receive
in the community. Mr Keeling had medical conditions that the healthcare team
generally managed well. The clinical reviewer made recommendations not related
to his death which the Head of Healthcare will wish to address.
8. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Keeling’s
care. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern related to his death. We
make no recommendations.
Governor to note
9. When Mr Keeling died, during the night, the allocated family liaison officer was not
on duty. The night manager did not deploy an alternative family liaison officer to
break the news of Mr Keeling’s death to his family. The family were contacted on 17
May by the night manager. A senior manager reminded the night manager that he
should have deployed a family liaison officer promptly. We are satisfied that the
prison has addressed the omission but bring it to the Governor’s attention for
monitoring.
10. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS pointed out some factual inaccuracies, and this report has been amended
accordingly.
Adrian Usher December 2024
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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At the inquest held on 18 February 2025 the coroner concluded Mr Keeling 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
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE