Maurice Holiday, an 80-year-old convicted child rapist, died of ischaemic heart disease while serving a 17-year prison sentence at HMP Northumberland, according to a report by the Prison and Probations Ombudsman (PPO) published on Friday. Holiday was jailed in February 2020 after being found guilty of three counts of rape and six of indecent assault against young girls committed decades earlier.
Details of Death and Clinical Care
Holiday died on July 17 last year at HMP Northumberland. The PPO report concluded that the cause of death was ischaemic heart disease, resulting from coronary artery atheroma—a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries. An independent clinical reviewer commissioned by NHS England assessed the clinical care Holiday received at the prison and deemed it of a good standard, equivalent to care available in the community. The review noted that his medical records showed reasonable care plans for his heart conditions and diabetes, and no recommendations were made regarding his death.
Non-Clinical Findings and Inquest
A PPO investigator also evaluated non-clinical aspects of Holiday's care and found no concerns. An inquest held on January 28, 2026, concluded that Holiday died of natural causes. The full PPO report is publicly available.
Background of Offences
Holiday, from Darlington, had a prior conviction for child rape. In the 1960s, he served a three-year sentence for raping an underage girl he and others lured from an amusement park. During his 2020 trial, the court heard that as a young man, he groomed, touched, and had sex with one girl, and later raped and sexually assaulted another girl repeatedly, using violence and threats to ensure her silence.
