Victor Farrant

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Independent investigation into
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
the death of Mr Victor Farrant,
a prisoner at HMP Wakefield,
on 3 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, 2024
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 January 1998, Mr Victor Farrant was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole
life order for murder (meaning he was not expected to be released). He died of
cancer of the tongue on 3 May 2024, at HMP Wakefield. He was 74 years old. We
offer our condolences to Mr Farrant’s family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office contacted Mr Farrant’s next of kin to explain the
investigation and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They
asked about some missed hospital appointments and asked why Mr Farrant had not
been released on compassionate grounds.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr
Farrant’s clinical care at HMP Wakefield.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Farrant received at
Wakefield was of a good standard and equivalent to that which he could have
expected to receive in the community. The clinical reviewer has addressed the
missed hospital appointments in her report.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Farrant’s
care. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We are satisfied that the
correct process was followed in respect of an application for early release on
compassionate grounds and that Mr Farrant did not qualify for early release.
8. We make no recommendations.
9. We shared our initial report with HMPPS. They found no factual inaccuracies.
10. We sent a copy of our initial report to Mr Farrant’s next of kin. They did not notify us
of any factual inaccuracies.
11. The inquest, held on 20 May 2024, concluded that Mr Farrant died from natural
causes.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman September 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
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE