AMOS MATTHEWS FROM WIDNES AND KINMEL BAY DIES LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER SENTENCE FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE

In a tragic and disturbing case, Amos Matthews, a convicted paedophile with connections to Widnes and previously residing on a caravan park in Kinmel Bay, North Wales, passed away less than a year after being sentenced for his heinous crimes. Matthews, aged 82, was sentenced in May 2021 to serve 21 years in prison after a court found him guilty of sexually abusing six children, a series of offenses described as occurring with "most appalling depravity."

His criminal history revealed that Matthews began abusing children in his mid-50s and continued this pattern until just a few years prior to his arrest. The court heard evidence of 19 charges against him, including rape and sexual assault, which led to his lengthy incarceration at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham. The sentencing hearing at Mold Crown Court resulted in a sentence that would keep him behind bars for more than two decades.

Following his death, a report from the Prisoners and Probation Ombudsman clarified that Matthews received a standard level of care during his imprisonment, comparable to what he would have received outside of prison. The report specifically addressed his medical treatment for bladder cancer, which was a significant concern given his age and health status.

Two months prior to his incarceration, Matthews was diagnosed with a tumour in his bladder, which was confirmed by a CT scan. The medical team performed surgery in August 2021 to remove the tumour, followed by palliative radiotherapy, as further surgeries were deemed unsuitable. In October 2021, Matthews received a hospital letter informing him that the cancer had metastasized to his pelvis, and it was now considered incurable. After this diagnosis, Matthews was admitted to hospital and did not return to prison.

During his hospital stay, Matthews tested positive for Covid-19. The report noted uncertainty about whether he contracted the virus in prison or in the hospital setting. Concerns were raised because the formal process to apply for compassionate release—an option for seriously ill prisoners with a prognosis of less than three months—was not initiated until after his death. Despite the prison being aware of his prognosis in early December 2021, staff reportedly did not begin the application process in a timely manner, raising questions about the management of his case.

The investigation concluded that the cause of death was bladder cancer that had metastasized to his bones, a diagnosis confirmed by the hospital doctor. No post-mortem examination was performed. The report also highlighted that Matthews was the sixth inmate to die at HMP Berwyn since March 2020, with causes of death including four natural causes and one case of self-inflicted harm.

Overall, the report emphasized the importance of ensuring that prison staff are adequately trained and proactive in managing compassionate release applications, especially for terminally ill inmates, to prevent delays in providing appropriate end-of-life care.