ROGER HAYNES, GORLESTON SEX OFFENDER WITH BILE DUCT CANCER, DIES IN NORWICH PRISON

In a tragic turn of events, Roger Haynes, a 71-year-old convicted sex offender from Gorleston, passed away at HMP Norwich on November 24, 2019. The circumstances surrounding his death have been the subject of an inquest held at Norfolk Coroner's Court on December 4, where officials confirmed that his body was identified by a nurse at the prison.

Haynes's medical cause of death was officially recorded as cholangiocarcinoma of the biliary tract, commonly known as bile duct cancer. The diagnosis was linked to underlying health conditions, including sclerosing cholangitis and metastatic malignant melanoma, which had severely compromised his health. The inquest revealed that Haynes's health had been deteriorating, and he was receiving palliative care at the time of his death.

His medical history and the circumstances of his passing drew attention to his long-standing criminal record and recent health struggles. Haynes had been serving his sentence at HMP Norwich since mid-September 2019, after being convicted for possessing a vast collection of indecent images of children. The police had uncovered over 300,000 such images and videos when they investigated him in 2017, leading to his subsequent conviction.

During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that Haynes, who was on the sex offender register, had previously breached his sexual harm prevention order by leaving Norfolk in August 2018 for a ten-day holiday in Bangkok, Thailand. Prosecutor Martin Ivory highlighted that Haynes failed to inform authorities of his travel plans, which was a violation of the conditions set by the order, as he was required to notify police before leaving the UK. This breach occurred while he was under investigation for his possession of indecent images.

Haynes's health issues had become increasingly serious, and he was now receiving only palliative care. Despite his illness, he admitted to downloading and possessing indecent images and failing to comply with the sex offender register requirements. As a result, he was sentenced to 50 months in prison. Judge Maureen Bacon acknowledged the severity of his crimes and described his diagnosis as 'depressing,' noting that he was only receiving palliative treatment. She emphasized that the court could not make judgments about his health but was compelled to impose a custodial sentence due to the seriousness of his offenses.

Haynes's legal representative, Jonathan Goodman, argued that his client had undergone a recent scan and was only on pain relief medication, suggesting that an alternative to immediate imprisonment might be appropriate given his terminal condition. Goodman pointed out that Haynes had not committed any further offenses and that the prison could adequately manage his care. The judge accepted these points but maintained that the sentence was necessary, with Haynes's medical notes accompanying him to prison for any ongoing treatment.

In summary, Roger Haynes's death at HMP Norwich marked the end of a life marred by criminal activity and serious health issues. His case highlighted the complex intersection of criminal justice and medical care, especially for individuals with terminal illnesses serving sentences for grave offenses.