David Venables

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr David Venables,
a prisoner at HMP Stoke Heath,
on 16 December 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, 2025
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
Where we have identified any third-party copyright information you will need to obtain permission
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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 20 July 2022, Mr David Venables was sentenced to life imprisonment for
murder. He died from pneumonia on 16 December 2024, while a prisoner at HMP
Stoke Heath. He also had urothelial cancer (cancer of the lining of the urinary tract),
obstructive uropathy (a condition which blocks the flow of urine) and diabetes
mellitus which contributed to but did not cause his death. He was 92 years old. We
offer our condolences to Mr Venables’ family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Venables’ 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
Venables’ clinical care at HMP Stoke Heath. The clinical review is attached as
Annex 1.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Venables received at Stoke
Heath was of a good standard and at least equivalent to that which he could have
expected to receive in the community. She found good communication between
healthcare staff, the Marie Curie palliative care team and staff at HMP Stafford.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Venables’
care. We did not identify any non-clinical learning.
8. We make no recommendations.
9. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
10. Mr Venables’ next of kin received a copy of the draft report. They did not make any
comments.
11. At an inquest held on 26 June 2025, the Coroner concluded that Mr Venables died
of natural causes.
Adrian Usher July 2025
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