PAEDOPHILE RECALLED TO JAIL AFTER FAILING TO DISCLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH PREGNANT MUM DIED IN HIS CELL
A paedophile who was recalled to prison after he failed to disclose that he was in a relationship with a pregnant mum took his own life while behind bars.Allan Waddup was initially jailed for eight years for sexual offences against a child.
After being released on licence, police discovered the 33-year-old was in a relationship with a pregnant woman who was living with her two children.
He had failed to tell his offender manager and had breached the conditions of his licence.
Waddup was taken to Durham prison before being transferred to HMP Northumberland.
His partner informed him she had met social services and they were concerned about her relationship with him, as he was considered to be a risk to her children.
She said she loved him and "if she had to choose between him and her kids, she had to choose them".
Days later, she told him that she wanted to end their relationship and he was "very distressed by the call".
The day after she ended their relationship, he took his life at the prison near Acklington.
He was found the next morning by a member of staff and died in his cell.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Sue McAllister said staff could not have known that he was at risk of suicide or self-harm or having relationship difficulties.
She said: "We do not consider that staff could have foreseen his death." However she was "very concerned" that staff did not consider going into Waddup's cell immediately after they discovered that he was hanging.
They said the delay did not affect the outcome for him, but in other circumstances, could be crucial.
She said: "This is not the first time that I have found staff at Northumberland do not understand national guidelines about going into a cell at night when there is a potential risk to a prisoner's life.
The Director needs to take immediate action to address this." Waddup was sentenced for the child sex offences in January 2015 and was released on licence on October 9, 2018.
He was sent back to prison on October 29, 2019 when his licence was revoked.
At around 5.45am on December 13, 2019, a staff member at HMP Northumberland saw Waddup hanging in his cell.
He asked for permission to go in but was refused as only two staff were present and three were needed to enter safely.
When backup did not arrive, he asked again and was granted permission.
Paramedics arrived at 6.03am and pronounced him dead four minutes later.
The ombudsman reported Waddup suffered from depression and anxiety.
He had been referred to the mental health team by a nurse at Durham prison who put him on the waiting list for an assessment.
She noted Waddup had been referred but had not been assessed before he died.
He was then transferred to HMP Northumberland where a nurse did not detect that he had an outstanding mental health assessment.
A mental health administrator at Durham noted Waddup had been referred, but had not been assessed before he transferred.
She called a mental health administrator there to inform her, and he was added to the waiting list for a review.
The healthcare provided to Waddup was not considered to be equivalent to what he would have received in the community, and it took 12 days before he was referred to the mental health team at Northumberland.
The ombudsman described this as a "significant missed opportunity" to offer support.
She recommended that the Head of Healthcare review the referral management process at HMP Northumberland to ensure that mental health assessments are carried out promptly.
An HMP Northumberland spokesperson expressed condolences to Waddup's family, stating they cooperated fully with the investigation and have implemented recommendations.
A NHS provider also reviewed his care and expressed condolences.
Although staff could not have foreseen Waddup's death, the ombudsman highlighted the need for improved mental health support and immediate action in such cases.
