Ryan McArthur

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Ryan McArthur
on 26 April 2025, following his
release from HMP Hull
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
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visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
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Summary
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. Since 6 September 2021, the PPO has investigated post-release deaths that occur
within 14 days of the person’s release from prison.
3. 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.
4. Mr Ryan McArthur died in hospital from a head injury on 26 April 2025, following a
fall from height, ten days after his release from HMP Hull. He was 36 years old. We
offer our condolences to those who knew him.
5. On 26 April, Mr McArthur was seen walking on the roof of a school. He then fell
from the edge of the roof and sustained a serious head injury when his head struck
the concrete. It appears this was an accidental fall.
6. We did not identify any significant learning relating to the pre-release planning or
post-release supervision of Mr McArthur.
7. We make no recommendations.
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The Investigation Process
8. HMPPS notified us of Mr McArthur’s death on 2 May 2025.
9. The PPO investigator obtained copies of relevant extracts from Mr McArthur’s
prison and probation records.
10. We informed HM Coroner for Greater Lincolnshire of the investigation. He gave us
the results of the post-mortem examination. We have sent the Coroner a copy of
this report.
11. The Ombudsman’s office contacted Mr McArthur’s father to explain the investigation
and to ask if he had any matters he wanted us to consider. He did not respond to
our letter.
12. We shared our initial report with HMPPS and the prison’s healthcare provider,
Spectrum Community Health CIC. They found no factual inaccuracies.
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Background Information
HMP Hull
13. HMP Hull is a local inner-city prison with a complex population of remand and
sentenced prisoners. Around 130 prisoners are released each month.
Probation Service
14. The Probation Service works with all individuals subject to custodial and community
sentences. During a person’s imprisonment, they oversee their sentence plan to
assist in rehabilitation, prepare reports to advise the Parole Board and have links
with local partnerships to which they refer people for resettlement services, where
appropriates. Post-release, the Probation Service supervises people throughout
their licence period and post-sentence supervision.
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Key Events
Background
15. On 26 November 2024, Mr Ryan McArthur was sentenced to six months in prison
for breach of a criminal behaviour order. He was released on 6 February 2025.
16. On the day of his release, Mr McArthur attended probation for his initial appointment
and went to his accommodation provided by Community Accommodation Service
Tier 3 (CAS3), which provides temporary housing for prison leavers. After this, he
did not return to the CAS3 accommodation and as a result, it was withdrawn from
him for failing to reside as instructed. As Mr McArthur had breached his licence
conditions, his community offender manager (COM) revoked his licence, and a
warrant was issued for his arrest.
17. On 4 April, Mr McArthur was arrested for shoplifting. He was sent to HMP Hull to
serve a 14-day recall.
18. On 7 April, Mr McArthur was given an additional 12-week suspended sentence for
shoplifting.
Pre-release planning
19. When Mr McArthur arrived at Hull, he told staff during his reception screening that
he had epilepsy and had a history of drug use in the community. He told staff at Hull
that he used to take Subutex (a medicine that helps with opioid withdrawal
symptoms) but had not taken any since coming into custody this time. He said that
he would like to start an opioid substitute treatment (OST) like Subutex and asked
to be referred to the substance misuse service (SMS).
20. On 10 April, Mr McArthur told an SMS worker that he was due to start methadone
that week. However, when he got to the medications hatch, he was told not to
collect as there was a problem. He then decided that he no longer wanted to start
methadone treatment in prison. The SMS worker asked a GP at Hull to complete a
drug screen and review Mr McArthur for potential treatment, should he change his
mind.
21. That afternoon, a GP visited Mr McArthur to ask again if he wanted to start OST. Mr
McArthur again said he did not want any treatment in prison and would arrange it
after his release.
22. On the morning of Mr McArthur’s release, an SMS worker asked if he would like to
be issued with a supply of naloxone (a medication that can rapidly reverse opioid
overdose). Mr McArthur declined.
Release from HMP Hull
23. On 16 April, Mr McArthur was released from Hull. He was released with one week’s
worth of medication for epilepsy. He told a nurse that he was going back to his
home address.
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24. On the day of his release, Mr McArthur attended the probation office for his initial
appointment. His COM told him that his licence would last until 29 June. Mr
McArthur was upset by this and said he wanted to discuss with his solicitor as he
thought it was against his human rights. Mr McArthur did not have a mobile phone
and told his COM that he was hoping to stay with his father, as he did not have any
other accommodation.
25. Mr McArthur declined any additional support from his COM and refused a referral to
commissioned rehabilitative services (CRS) which support with housing, finances,
substance misuse and mental health. Mr McArthur’s COM signposted him to a
homelessness charity in case he was unable to live with his father.
Circumstances of Mr McArthur’s death
26. On 23 April, Mr McArthur did not attend his probation appointment. Police told his
COM that he had fallen from a school building over the weekend and was in a
critical condition in hospital. Mr McArthur had been seen walking along the roof. He
fell from the edge of the roof and sustained a serious head injury when his head
struck the concrete. He was taken to hospital by emergency services for treatment.
Police were satisfied that there was no third-party involvement.
27. Later that day, the police told Mr McArthur’s COM that he had died in hospital.
Post-mortem report
28. The post-mortem report concluded that Mr McArthur died from a head injury caused
by a fall from a height.
29. Previous cannabis use was detected but the active metabolite was very low at the
time of death making it less likely that cannabis was affecting cognition. The other
drugs detected were in therapeutic ranges. There were therapeutic antiepileptic
concentrations, thus reducing the chance of seizures.
Findings
30. The evidence suggests that Mr McArthur’s death was caused by an accidental fall.
31. We found no issues with the pre-release planning or post-release supervision of Mr
McArthur.
32. We make no recommendations.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman December 2025
Inquest
At the inquest, held on 20 January 2026, the Coroner concluded that Mr McArthur’s death
was due to an accident.
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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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