Paedophile dies in prison just two months after starting nine year sentence

A paedophile with terminal cancer has died just two months into his prison sentence.

Ian Wilkinson, who was jailed in February of last year, was told by the judge who sentenced him that he would ‘likely’ die behind bars.

The 64-year-old, from Upholland near Wigan, repeatedly abused a teenage boy in the 1980s and was found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault.

The trial heard the assaults took place in the Newton-le-Willlows area in the mid-to-late 1980s. Wilkinson performed sexual acts on his victim and forced him to carry out sex acts.

A statement from his victim was read out in court described how his world ‘unraveled’, adding: ‘I went from being an innocent, cheeky young lad to being a lying, cheating, alcohol and drug addicted man.’

During sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall said: ‘[The victim] did not know what was happening or that what you were doing was wrong. He would remain frozen.

‘It has created an ongoing, deeply damaging issues for him to have to deal with.

‘You had the audacity to suggest that he was somehow to blame. He was not to blame. You have shown no genuine remorse for what happened.

‘This was offending carried out purely for your own sexual gratification. The hurt and distress it has caused is palpable.

‘You are clearly in ill health, with a terminal diagnosis. You are unlikely to live beyond this year.

‘You have been able to live almost your entire life unaffected by your offending, unlike your victim. It is likely that you will die in prison.’

Wilkinson died in a hospice in April 2023, two months after beginning his nine-year sentence.

A report into his death by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman said Wilkinson was transferred to end-of-life care within days of arriving at HMP Liverpool.

After a conversation with his GP a ‘do not resuscitate order’ was then issued, the MEN reports.

While he was still on remand, Wilkinson’s lawyers submitted an application for early release on compassionate grounds – but this was rejected.

His condition deteriorated and he was transferred to St Joseph’s Hospice in Liverpool, where he died soon after.

The report found Wilkinson received a ‘good standard’ of care and that he was ‘treated with compassion’ through his imprisonment. An inquest later ruled he died of natural causes.

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