A 77-year-old sex offender who died while at a Suffolk prison received a good standard of care, a report has found.

David Budd died in hospital from lung cancer on November 21 2023, while a prisoner at HMP Hollesley Bay.

Budd was sentenced to eight years and four months imprisonment for sex offences for offences that took place in Newham in the 1970s.

David Budd died at the age of 77.David Budd died at the age of 77. (Image: Met Police)

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman carried out an investigation into his death, which was the first at the prison since 2020.

The report said that Budd had been transferred to Hollesley Bay in February last year.

On April 12, Budd told a nurse that he had had a lump in his oesophagus for the past three years.

Budd told the nurse that he had difficulty swallowing food and was referred to hospital for tests, but the hospital found no evidence of cancer.

It was not until November when the prisoner began experiencing further pain.

On November 7, Budd told the nurse that he had constant pain in his ribs, shoulders and knees.

The nurse referred Budd for an abdominal ultrasound and chest X-ray and on 14 November, Budd told an officer that he felt unwell and that he wanted to see a GP.

A nurse saw Budd and noted that he was pale, short of breath and was struggling to talk in full sentences.

The nurse sent him to hospital and on November 20, hospital staff diagnosed Budd with lung cancer which had spread to his liver and bones.

Budd’s condition rapidly deteriorated and he died the following day.

The report said his family had asked why his cancer was not detected sooner, given that he attended healthcare and hospital many times in his last months of life. 

The report said: "The clinical reviewer could not say if a transfer to hospital earlier than 14 November would have made any difference to the outcome for Mr Budd.

"He had undetected lung cancer with secondary cancers also present. However, she concluded that if Mr Budd’s deterioration had been escalated sooner, this would have provided better symptom management and pain relief in hospital.

"The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Budd received was of a good standard and equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community."