A notorious paedophile who was jailed for 17 years has died just five years into his sentence. Christopher Tatton, 77, whose crimes spanned two decades, passed away in HMP Rye Hill from sepsis due to a chest infection. Despite denying the charges, Tatton was convicted in 2020 for sexually assaulting three young girls, with his youngest victim being only five years old.
The abuse, which occurred during the 1980s and 90s, left deep scars on Tatton’s victims. One survivor shared how the trauma drove her to leave university due to severe anxiety, affecting her relationships and daily life. Another explained how the trauma lingered in her mind, shaping her as a person, while the third spoke about the challenges it posed to her relationships but mentioned she found ways to cope.
Judge Paul Thomas QC condemned Tatton’s actions, highlighting the profound psychological impact on the women. “You put your twisted urges before their right to grow up properly, ruining their childhood and adulthood,” he said.
A report by the prison ombudsman indicated that while Tatton received healthcare equivalent to that outside prison, there were gaps in paperwork such as the NEWS2 assessment, meant to track health deterioration. Recommendations have been made to improve the training of healthcare staff in recognising acute illnesses in prisoners.