A paedophile who molested a girl and threatened to share explicit images of her has died while serving a prison sentence, a new report reveals. Barry Doyle, a retired tool maker, was 73 at the time of his death in July 2025 while incarcerated at HMP Wymott in Lancashire.
Crimes and Sentencing
Doyle was jailed in October 2021 for seven years at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court after admitting 14 charges, including sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, child abduction, and making and possessing indecent images. He had a previous conviction for indecent assault.
The court heard that Doyle groomed his victim into sending him naked selfies and then threatened to share the images with others unless she submitted to further sexual demands. He told the vulnerable child: "You have to behave." Greater Manchester Police discovered he had given the girl six mobile phones and used them to film himself molesting her.
Death and Investigation
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, published on June 25, 2026, states that Doyle died on July 9, 2025, from coronary atheromatous disease—a build-up of fat in the arteries near the heart—contributed to by hypertension and diabetes. He was 74.
Ombudsman Adrian Usher said: "NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr Doyle's clinical care at HMP Wymott. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Doyle received at Wymott was of a good standard and at least equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community. She found good evidence of compassionate interactions between Mr Doyle, healthcare and custodial staff. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern."
Judge's Remarks
At sentencing, Judge Tina Landale told Doyle: "You have a clearly developed sexual interest in children—you have little genuine empathy, regret or insight into what you did." A coroner recorded a verdict of natural causes after an inquest.
