Probe over death of city inmate

AN independent investigation has been carried out by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman following the death of a 70-year-old Plymouth sex offender who died while serving as a prisoner at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire, a specialist sex offenders prison.

- ANITA MERRITT

Taklus Hussain was sentenced to 20 years in prison for historic sex offences on July 13, 2018. He was transferred to HMP Littlehey in October 2021.

He died in hospital of pneumonia on March 8 this year. A review into his death concluded that the clinical care Mr Hussain received at HMP Littlehey was equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community.

However, it found that the decision to restrain Mr Hussain when he was taken to hospital was 'not justified' and was 'inappropriate' given his poor mobility.

Mr Hussain was said to have had a history of high blood pressure, angina, lung disease and heart disease. His condition worsened significantly in August 2022.

By the beginning of this year, he was reported to have not been compliant with antibiotic medication and continued to have mobility and breathing problems.