Latest news with #PrisonOmbudsman
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
One of Britain's worst paedophiles dead at 72: Monster who filmed himself abusing children as young as three dies in prison
One of Britain's worst paedophiles, who filmed himself abusing children as young as three, has died in prison. Anthony Barron, formerly of Grove, Oxfordshire, was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 after pleading guilty to 87 charges of sexual offences against children. The monster's rap sheet including attempted rape, sexual assault and making indecent photographs. The prison ombudsman confirmed Sunday that he died on July 18 at the age of 72 while serving at male sex offender prison HMP Ashfield, near Bristol. His cause of death has not been revealed. Currently the Prison and Probation Ombudsman is investigating his death and a report will be published in due course. Upon sentencing, Barron's case was described as the worst of its kind in his county. At the time he was jailed Judge Julian Hall told Barron he was a 'plausible, predatory paedophile' whose crimes he had found 'quite chilling'. He added: 'This is as serious a series of offences as I think I've ever come across.' The court heard Barron had targeted 11 girls aged from three to 12 over a nine-year period beginning in 1997. Amjad Malik, prosecuting, said Barron, a popular figure in the community, had befriended their parents through his connections to primary schools and Scout groups and persuaded them to let the children stay with him at his home. He then 'groomed' the girls into allowing him to film himself abusing them, using sweets and toys as bribes. Mr Malik described Barron as 'almost an integral part of the parents' lives' and a person they believed to be an 'extremely friendly, helpful man'. The court heard that suspicions were raised when one of Barron's victims made a comment to her mother about him. Police subsequently raided his house and seized 52 computers which contained scores of video recordings of him abusing the girls. Andrew Bright, defending, said the case was 'truly shocking' and a cause of 'great shame' to Barron and anyone associated with him. But he told Judge Hall that Barron had not used threats or violence to make the children comply. Jailing Barron, the Judge said: 'You totally betrayed the trust of parents who allowed you to look after their children. 'You abused them completely and treated them with no respect whatsoever. You treated them as if they were some sort of toy. 'I can't imagine anything worse than a parent knowing not only that their child had been abused but had been filmed being abused.' He added: 'I've no idea when, if ever, you will be safe to be let loose in the community, because I've no idea why this all started. 'I think it's right that you remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for the rest of your life.'
The Sun
07-06-2025
- The Sun
Shock death of newborn ‘Baby C' at women's prison being probed
PRISON bosses are investigating the tragic death of a newborn baby inside a jail. The child was just one day old when they died at HMP Foston Hall in Derbyshire. An inquest into 'Baby C' is set to be held to establish how it died at the prison, which also has a Young Offenders' Institution. The tot's gender and mother's condition has not been disclosed following the death behind bars on October 16, 2023. It was confirmed by the Prison and Probations Ombudsman after featuring in its latest Independent Investigations Annual Report. Ombudsman Adrian Usher said: 'We are saddened to confirm that the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman are investigating the death of a baby. 'We offer our sincerest condolences to the family.' The newborn was among 292 deaths inside prisons in 2023/24, according to the report. A final investigation report will be published by the PPO after the inquest has finished. Three babies have now died in the English prison system in the last five years following deaths at HMP Bronzefield in 2019 and HMP Styal in 2020. Aisha Cleary died in her mum Rianna's cell at Bronzefield in Surrey, the biggest women's prison in Europe, in September 2019. Rianna, 18, endured more than 12 hours of labour and had repeatedly pressed her 'cell bell' before anyone came to help. Chilling moment prisoners smirk before battering sex offender to death in cell in 37-sec attack - then calmly walk away Officers found her covered in blood with her dead infant after biting through the umbilical cord as she had no other way of severing it. Louise Powell, 31, begged for an ambulance at HMP Styal before giving birth to her stillborn baby girl, Brooke-Leigh, in a toilet. She didn't know she was pregnant before going into labour in June 2020. A PPO report found the duty nurse made 'a serious error of judgement' by not visiting Powell after they were contacted three times about her severe pain. 1
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Inmate's death at Manchester Prison to be investigated
The prison watchdog is investigating the death of an inmate at HMP Manchester two years ago, it has Prison and Probation Ombudsman has issued a notice on its website saying it has started an investigation, pending the outcome of an inquest into the death of Lee Gorst, 35, on 25 April was serving a seven-year jail term for aggravated burglary in Bury on 15 June 2021. He admitted charges of robbery and threatening another person with a bladed article, namely a knife.A Prison Service spokesperson said: "As with all deaths in custody, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman is investigating." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
