Rapist dies after jail hunger strike

John Dabrowski, a former Walsall education welfare officer, was serving a minimum six-year sentence in Stafford prison when he started his "sporadic" hunger strike in September.

It is understood that he always maintained his innocence and went on hunger strike in protest at his imprisonment. He is believed to have made a "living will" which prevented prison officials from intervening. Towards the end of last week, he was described as being "hours from death" and was moved from the prison to Stafford Hospital, where he died at 11am on Saturday.

A prison service spokeswoman yesterday confirmed the death of Dabrowski, believed to be aged 54 and formerly of Pinfold Lane, Norton Canes.

"Mr Dabrowski had signed an advance directive refusing food and was considered mentally capable of making such a decision," she said. "Stafford prison cared for Mr Dabrowski until such a time as he was taken to outside hospital." In 1996 Dabrowski was jailed for 10 years after admitting attempting to murder his own two children and in 2005 was given 42 months for an indecent assault.

Then, last February, he was found guilty at Stafford Crown Court of two rapes, one attempted rape and two other sexual offences.

Dabrowski, who had a history of going on hunger strike, was jailed for public protection with a recommendation he serve at least six years before being considered for parole. The likelihood is that he would never have been released.