A paedophile who repeatedly abused a teenage boy in the 1980s died in jail just weeks after starting a nine year sentence. Ian Wilkinson had terminal lung cancer and was told by the judge who jailed him in February 2023 that he would 'likely' die in prison.
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.While he was still on remand Wilkinson's legal team also submitted an application for early release on compassionate grounds, which was rejected.
Wilkinson's trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard heard that his assaults occurred in the Newton-le-Willows area in the mid-to-late 80s. Wilkinson, of Ormskirk Road in Upholland, performed sexual acts on his victim and forced him to carry out sex acts. Sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall said: " did not know what was happening or that what you were doing was wrong. He would remain frozen.