William Reynolds

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr William Reynolds,
a prisoner at HMP Leyhill,
on 26 October 2023
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, 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 HM 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. Mr William Reynolds was sentenced to 14 years in prison for sexual offences. He
died of metastatic prostate cancer on 26 October 2023 while a prisoner at HMP
Leyhill. He was 82 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Reynolds’ family and
friends.
4. The PPO family liaison officer wrote to Mr Reynolds’ next of kin to explain the
investigation and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They
had no questions but asked for a copy of our report.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer, to review Mr
Reynolds’ clinical care at HMP Leyhill. The clinical reviewer concluded that the
clinical care Mr Reynolds received at HMP Leyhill was of a good standard and
equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community.
6. The clinical reviewer made four recommendations which were not related to Mr
Reynolds’ death but which the Head of Healthcare will want to address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Reynolds’
care. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no
recommendations.
8. Mr Reynolds’ family received a copy of the draft report. They did not make any
comments.
9. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
10. At an inquest held on 7 January 2025, the Coroner concluded that Mr Reynolds
died of natural causes.
Adrian Usher April 2026
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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