Convicted Child Rapist Died of Natural Causes in Prison, Inquest Confirms

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An inquest has formally concluded that Raymond Catchpole, an 82-year-old convicted paedophile, died of natural causes while in custody at HMP Durham, just six weeks after being found guilty of multiple child sex offences. The inquest, which began on June 13, 2024, found that heart failure, caused by hypoactive delirium resulting from acute kidney injury, led to his death. Anaemia was also listed as a contributing factor.

A review by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and an independent clinical reviewer, commissioned by NHS England, found no failures in the care Catchpole received. The medical assessment stated that his treatment while incarcerated was “equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community,” with nursing staff praised for meeting his specialist needs and maintaining his comfort.

Catchpole, formerly of Eggleston Road in central Middlesbrough, was convicted by a jury on September 7, 2023, of six counts of child rape, five counts of sexual abuse of a child, and two counts of making indecent images. The crimes, committed more than a decade ago, caused lasting trauma to his victims.

He was remanded to HMP Durham immediately following the guilty verdict, but on October 20, 2023, he was transferred to a hospital, where he later died. At the time of his death, he was still awaiting sentencing.

The inquest marks the official end to the case, though it leaves unresolved emotions for his victims. While Catchpole’s conviction stands, his death prevented the final stage of justice, a sentencing hearing that would have publicly acknowledged the full extent of his crimes.

His death, though medically explained and reviewed, closes a painful chapter without delivering the courtroom closure some victims may have hoped for.