Paedophile Dies in Prison While Serving Life Sentence

A convicted paedophile has died in prison while serving a life sentence for multiple sexual offences against children. Lawrence Johnson, from Carmarthenshire, passed away at HMP Frankland in County Durham on January 13, 2024. 👨‍⚖️

Johnson, 82, who previously resided on St Clears High Street, was jailed in 2000 after being found guilty of 13 offences against two children. He received a life sentence with a minimum tariff of eight years and three months.

His crimes included three indecent assaults against a young girl and ten offences against a young boy – five counts of buggery and five indecent assaults.

According to a newly released prisons ombudsman report, Johnson died from an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The report revealed he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but “only occasionally took his medication as prescribed.” After being diagnosed with the aneurysm, he had declined further monitoring and follow-up screening.

The ombudsman, Adrian Usher, identified one failing by prison staff in his report. On the evening of Johnson’s death, there was a delay in healthcare staff accessing his cell after he reported feeling unwell at 5:53pm.

“My investigation found that when healthcare staff asked an officer to open Mr Johnson’s cell door to allow them to conduct observations on him, the officer did not,” wrote Mr Usher in his report. “The officer was unaware that all staff have the authority to open cell doors in patrol state, in line with local protocol.”

This delay meant that despite Johnson pressing his emergency cell bell at 5:53pm, his cell door wasn’t opened until 6:07pm. By this time, he was struggling to breathe. He subsequently went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 6:55pm despite resuscitation attempts.

The ombudsman has instructed the prison to ensure managers complete monthly audits checking staff’s understanding of night procedures.