Newport Paedophile Dies While Serving Prison Sentence

A convicted paedophile has died while serving a lengthy prison sentence for multiple child sex offences. Tony Chamberlain, 64, from Duffryn in Newport, was confirmed dead on April 21 at HMP Rye Hill in Northamptonshire, a prison exclusively housing sex offenders. 📋

Chamberlain was serving a 24-year sentence followed by six years on licence after being convicted in 2019 at Newport Crown Court. He was found guilty of 17 serious offences including four counts of raping a child, four of sexually assaulting a child, five of sexual activity with a child, three of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and one of conspiring to sexually assault a child.

An investigation by the prisons ombudsman is currently underway into the circumstances of his death.

Chamberlain was tried alongside two co-defendants from Bettws in Newport. Angela Whitchurch, then 51, received an 18-year prison sentence plus 12 months on licence after being convicted of conspiring to sexually assault a child, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, cruelty to a person, and two counts of aiding and abetting the rape of a child.

The third defendant, Brett Whitchurch, then 38, was sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of cruelty to a person.

Following the 2019 sentencing, detective constable Wendy Davie said: “These were very serious offences carried out against young children and the sentences reflect that.

“I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the victims who have shown tremendous courage throughout this lengthy investigation and recent court case. It is thanks to their bravery that their abusers have been brought to justice.”