Sebastian Szlaski

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Sebastian Szlaski,
a prisoner at HMP Long Lartin, on
17 May 2024
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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© Crown copyright, 2025
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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 July 2018, Mr Sebastian Szlaski was sentenced to life in prison for murder.
On 6 March 2019, Mr Szlaski was transferred to HMP Long Lartin.
4. Mr Szlaski died at Long Lartin on 17 May 2024. His cause of death was recurrent
oesophageal cancer with lymph node involvement (recurrent oesophageal cancer
means the cancer came back in the food pipe; lymph node involvement means the
cancer spread to small glands that help fight infections). He was 41 years old. We
offer our condolences to Mr Szlaski’s family and friends.
5. The Ombudsman’s office contacted Mr Szlaski’s former partner to explain the
investigation and to ask if she had any matters she wanted us to consider. She had
no questions.
6. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review the clinical
care Mr Szlaski received at Long Lartin. The clinical reviewer’s report is attached as
Annex 1.
7. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Szlaski received at Long
Lartin was of a good standard and was equivalent to that which he would have
received in the community. She found that Mr Szlaski received a good and
compassionate standard of palliative and end of life care at Long Lartin.
8. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Szlaski’s
care.
9. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations.
10. The initial report was shared with HMP Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
11. The inquest into Mr Szlaski’s death concluded on 16 December 2024 and returned
a verdict of natural causes.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman December 2024
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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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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