Robert Sneddon

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Robert Sneddon,
a prisoner at HMP North Sea
Camp, on 18 April 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
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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. In 2015, Mr Robert Sneddon was sentenced to life imprisonment for a sexual
offence. He died of ischaemic and valvular heart disease (where the heart muscle
has insufficient oxygen caused by narrowed coronary arteries, which causes
reduced blood flow to and from the heart) on 18 April 2025, at HMP North Sea
Camp. He was 72 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Sneddon’s family and
friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Sneddon’s next of kin to explain the
investigation and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They
had a question relating to Mr Sneddon’s employment, which has been addressed in
separate correspondence.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer, to review Mr
Sneddon’s clinical care at HMP North Sea Camp. The clinical reviewer’s report is
attached as Annex 1.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Sneddon received at North
Sea Camp was of good standard and equivalent to that which he could have
expected to receive in the community. She found that healthcare staff provided
diligent care, promptly identifying, treating and referring Mr Sneddon for his health
conditions. The clinical reviewer also noted that appropriate care plans were in
place, with healthcare staff demonstrating good practice by reviewing Mr Sneddon
after hospital admissions, maintaining regular weight management checks and
ensuring continuity of care.
7. The clinical reviewer made one recommendation not related to Mr Sneddon’s death
that the Head of Healthcare will wish to address.
8. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Sneddon’s
care.
9. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations.
10. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
11. Mr Sneddon’s family received a copy of the draft report. They did not make any
comments.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman November 2025
Inquest
12. The inquest into Mr Sneddon’s death concluded on 22 April 2026 and returned a
verdict 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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