Colin Harding, a 74-year-old convicted sex offender, died at HMP Stafford on August 3, 2024, while serving a 21-year prison sentence handed down on January 13, 2022, for sexual offences.
An investigation conducted by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) determined that Harding’s death was due to natural causes. According to the PPO report, Harding died from squamous carcinoma of the skin, a type of skin cancer. Additional contributing health conditions included atrial fibrillation (an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate), ischemic heart disease (heart problems caused by narrowed arteries), and prostate cancer.
“We offer our condolences to Mr Harding’s family and friends,” stated the PPO.
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An independent clinical reviewer commissioned by NHS England assessed Harding’s medical care and described it as of a “good standard.” However, the reviewer identified an unacceptable delay in sharing histology results following Harding’s surgery in February 2023.
An inquest held in December 2024 confirmed that the cause of death was natural causes.