A convicted sex offender who subjected two young girls to horrific sexual attacks took his own life in prison, an inquest has confirmed. Simon Dunn, 55, was found dead in his cell at HMP Garth in Lancashire on September 26, 2024, five years into a 16-year sentence.
Background of the crimes
Dunn, from The Precinct, Hadston, Northumberland, was convicted in September 2019 at Newcastle Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of 13 sexual assaults. The victims were aged between 11 and 13 at the time of the abuse. One victim told the court: "Years later, I'm still remembering things that happened so long ago. I don't know why he did that to me."
Circumstances of death
At around 11.36am on September 26, 2024, staff found Dunn unresponsive in his cell. Empty medication packets and a note indicating he intended to take his life were discovered. He was pronounced dead at 12.10pm. The inquest concluded on May 22, 2025, with a verdict of suicide.
Ombudsman findings
The Prisons & Probation Ombudsman (PPO) investigation highlighted several failings. It took five days for the prison to inform Dunn's next of kin, partly due to initial difficulties obtaining the correct address, but the report noted that once the address was obtained, the delay was unacceptable.
Dunn had a history of mental health issues, including emotionally unstable personality disorder, depression, and anxiety, as well as extensive self-harm and suicide attempts. He was monitored under ACCT procedures nine times, the last in January 2024.
In July 2024, healthcare staff allowed Dunn to hold his medication in possession after a risk assessment, despite his overdose history. In August, he pleaded guilty to additional charges and awaited sentencing. On September 19, he told his key worker he was not okay but denied suicidal thoughts. The key worker was then absent.
A fellow prisoner reported that on September 24, Dunn said four people were "out to get him" and he could not cope. An officer noted Dunn only mentioned issues on the wing. The ombudsman found that potential triggers—impending sentencing and bullying concerns—were not adequately explored.
Recommendations
The ombudsman made several recommendations: staff should better challenge bullying, ensure welfare checks after court appearances, review medication policies for prisoners with overdose histories, and improve next-of-kin notification processes.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: "HMP Garth has accepted all the Ombudsman’s recommendations and made changes to better support prisoners at risk of self-harm and suicide. This includes improved training for staff and more robust welfare checks."
