Convicted Wirral child abuser dies from brain cancer while serving sentence, PPO confirms
A convicted paedophile who abused four children in Wirral has died from brain cancer while still serving his prison sentence, a Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) report has confirmed.
Offender died in hospice while under prison custody
David Almond, 80, died in a hospice on 14 September 2024 while under the custody of HMP Liverpool. According to the PPO report, Almond had been transferred from prison to the hospice for end-of-life care after a rapid decline in his health.
The report states that Almond was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour and that his condition deteriorated over a relatively short period. Medical staff at the hospice provided palliative care until his death, which was recorded as being caused by brain cancer.
Almond remained a serving prisoner at the time of his death, and the PPO investigation was triggered as a routine part of the scrutiny applied when someone dies in custody or while still under the responsibility of the prison service.
Historic abuse of four children
Almond was jailed in February 2020 for a series of historic sexual offences against four children in the Wirral area. The offences, which included indecent assaults and indecency with a child, were committed in the 1980s and 1990s.
The victims – three girls and one boy – were all under the age of 14 at the time of the abuse. During sentencing, the court heard how Almond had exploited his position of trust and left his victims with long-lasting psychological harm.
Victim impact statements described decades of trauma, including post-traumatic stress, depression and ongoing difficulties with relationships and day-to-day life. One victim told the court that the abuse had “shaped every part of adult life” and that the effects “never really go away”.
PPO findings on care and treatment
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman examined the circumstances of Almond’s illness, the care he received in custody, and the decision to move him to a hospice. The report concluded that there were no significant concerns about the clinical care provided to him while he was a prisoner.
Investigators found that healthcare staff at HMP Liverpool and the hospice worked together to manage Almond’s condition and provide appropriate end-of-life care. The PPO stated that the treatment he received was “equivalent to that available in the community”, which is the standard the prison service is expected to meet.
The report also reviewed communication with Almond’s family and the handling of security arrangements while he was in the hospice, noting that he remained lawfully in custody until his death.
Impact on victims and public interest
News of Almond’s death has resurfaced as the PPO report has been referenced in recent media coverage. For the victims, the end of his life does not erase the harm caused, but some have previously spoken about a sense of closure in knowing that his offending was finally brought before the courts.
The case highlights the long shadow cast by historic abuse and the way in which investigations, prosecutions and subsequent prison oversight continue many years after the original offences took place.
While the PPO’s role is not to revisit the criminal case itself, its findings form part of the public record on how serious offenders are managed in custody, including in the final stages of life-limiting illness.
What the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman does
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is an independent body that investigates deaths and complaints in prisons, probation services, immigration detention and secure training centres. When someone dies in custody or while still under the responsibility of the prison service, the PPO examines what happened and whether lessons can be learned.
In cases involving natural causes, such as serious illness, the PPO focuses on the standard of healthcare, the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment, and whether the person was treated with dignity and respect.