Description
A paedophile who was locked up for abusing young children has died behind bars.
Convicted sex offender Ian Smith was serving a 21-year jail term at HMP Stafford when he died from Covid.
He was admitted to hospital after vomiting and suffering from a high temperature.
But the prisoner - who had received Covid vaccinations - died three days later.
The 62-year-old was jailed in 2021 for a string of sex offences against children - including a girl as young as six.
An investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman was launched in the wake of his death.
It found that the inmate's care at HMP Stafford was of a 'good standard' and 'equivalent' to that which he would have received if a free man.
No issues of concern were raised, a report from the ombudsman read.
Smith died at the Royal Stoke University Hospital on April 10, 2023.
His cause of death was recorded as Covid infection, with a previous diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 'contributing to but not resulting' in his death.
Smith also had a long-term diagnosis of multiple myeloma - a type of blood cancer which develops in plasma cells in the bone marrow.
The paedophile was initially sent to HMP Durham after being jailed for child sex offences in November 2021.
He received two Covid-19 jabs before he was locked up.
Smith was given a terminal cancer diagnosis on December 14 but declined treatment and said he did not want any follow-up appointments.
Two days later, he was transferred to HMP Stafford.
The report read: "Smith reported to a nurse that he had a new diagnosis of bone marrow cancer.
"He said that he initially refused treatment but that he had since changed his mind.
"Healthcare staff arranged for his care to be transferred to Staffordshire hospitals."
A care plan was then created by healthcare staff and was frequently reviewed.
Smith - who also had asthma - started oral chemotherapy on February 3, 2022.
A nurse completed a cancer care review for him and a palliative care specialist nurse reviewed the paedophile in May.
Smith was moved to Stafford's specialist care unit and a pain management care plan was drawn up in June.
He received a Covid booster vaccination on August 16 and was discharged from the specialist care unit back to the prison wing on September 15.
The report read: "Healthcare staff recorded that his pain relief was working well, and his chemotherapy appeared to be going well.
"He continued to see the palliative care specialist nurse at least once a week."
The sex offender was admitted to the Royal Stoke University Hospital after having a high temperature and vomiting on April 7.
He died in hospital three days later.
The report read: "The coroner accepted the cause of death provided by a hospital doctor and no post-mortem examination was carried out."
NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to examine Smith's care while at HMP Stafford.
The report, which was published in March, read: "We found that the clinical care that Smith received was of a good standard and equivalent to that he could expect to receive in the community.
"The clinical reviewer found that Smith’s COPD was managed in line with national guidelines throughout his time at Stafford.
"She also identified no concerns regarding his clinical care related to COVID-19."
It added: "We found no non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations."
A coroner ruled Smith died of 'natural causes' at an inquest held on February 29 last year.
In 2021, Teesside Live reported that Smith befriended women who had children or access to children in the Middlesbrough area.
He would gain their trust before carrying out his sick crimes.
The court heard that Smith spent years in prison for indecent assaults on male and female victims - including on girls under the age of 14.
He also had a previous conviction for possession of indecent images of children.