CARE FAILURE LED TO HUNGER STRIKE SEX OFFENDER'S DEATH

A SEX offender who went on hunger strike was severely constipated before he died, a report revealed.

- KELLY ASHMORE News Reporter

Steven Haldane went into cardiac arrest in the reception area of HMP Stafford on August 29, 2022, while waiting for a prison van to take him to hospital.

His cause of death was toxic megacolon - extreme inflammation of the colon - caused by chronic constipation.

Following the 55-year-old’s death, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) launched an investigation.

Haldane, who was jailed for nine years in April 2015 for sex offences, had been briefly released in December 2019.

However he was recalled in April 2020 for breaching his licence conditions, and was moved to HMP Stafford in March 2021.

In July 2022, Haldane asked for a meeting with his former cellmate, who had moved to a different wing.

It appeared Haldane wanted to pursue a relationship with him, but on July 8, he was told the prison would not arrange this.

Haldane started a hunger strike on July 12 and threatened to continue until the meeting was arranged.