It has come to light that a Hartlepool Paedophile sex offender, Gerald Raffell, who targeted helpless youngsters died less than one year into a long sentence.
In February 2023, an Oxford Crown Court jury found Gerald Raffell, of West View Road, Hartlepool, guilty of four past sexual assaults on youths under sixteen.
Later, Gerald Raffell admitted two more charges at another hearing and received an 11-year jail sentence.
Just 11 months into his sentence term, Gerald Raffell passed away in HMP Littlehey, in Cambridgeshire, according to an independent inquiry by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
“In February 2023, Mr Gerald Raffell was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment for sexual offences,” the newly disclosed report notes.
“His death at HMP Littlehey on January 9, 2024, was from lung cancer. He was seventy-five.
“We extend our sympathies to Mr Gerald Raffells family and friends.
“The Ombudsman’s office contacted Mr Gerald Raffell’s son to review the inquiry and inquire about any issues he wanted us to consider.
“He answered none of our letters.”
The paper then details how a group of independent reviewers concluded that Gerald Raffell’s clinical treatment “was of an excellent standard and equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive.”
Among the community”.
It also states: “We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern.”
An inquiry later found Gerald Raffell passed from national causes.
Over the victims of his sex assaults coming forward over a “significant amount of time,” Thames Valley Police initiated an investigation, and he was arrested in August 2020.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.