A convicted rapist has passed away in prison, amid criticism over serious healthcare failings. John Warry, 73, received a 12-year sentence in 2017 for the appalling sexual abuse of a toddler. He died of severe heart failure and a heart attack in September 2022 while serving time at HMP Stafford. A recent report by a prisons ombudsman highlights numerous errors in his medical care, raising concerns about the prison staff’s handling of healthcare procedures.
Warry, originally sentenced to nine years, saw his sentence increased to twelve after an appeal deemed it too lenient. Despite his conviction on five counts of raping a child, Warry maintained his innocence, dismissing the victim’s accusations as fabricated. Disturbingly, during the trial, it was revealed that Warry had given a toddler a “high-five” following the abuse.
The ombudsman criticised several significant deficiencies in managing Warry’s cardiovascular risk, noting that his pleas for medical attention days before his death were ignored. The report also exposed inadequate clinical record keeping and improper handling of Warry’s medications. On the day he died, procedures for managing his chest pain were not followed.
Additionally, the prison governor came under fire for posting incorrect information about Warry’s death on social media. The ombudsman urged for better adherence to social media protocols and recommended steps to prevent future oversights in prison healthcare.