Prison investigations body finds that jailed Walsall sex offender died in prison from aggressive type of brain cancer
The cause of the death of a Walsall man who died in prison just months into a 15-year sentence has been revealed by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
Adam Benton had been serving a 15-year sentence at HMP Stafford, having been handed the jail term in September last year after pleading guilty to eight charges relating to sexual activity with a vulnerable woman over 18
However, the 51-year-old from Walsall died in prison on January 15, with Staffordshire Police saying his death was not being treated as suspicious and an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman getting under way.
The inquest into Benton's death on June 27 recorded a verdict of natural causes and the incident report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) revealed he died from a high-grade glioma of brain, an aggressive type of brain cancer.
In his report, PPO Adrian Usher said: "NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review the clinical care that Mr Benton received at Stafford.
"The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Benton received at Stafford was of a good standard and more than equivalent to that which he would have received in the community.
"She identified evidence of a very good multi-disciplinary team approach to Mr Benton’s care, which was provided with compassion.
"Mr Benton died of high-grade glioma of brain (an aggressive type of brain cancer) on January 15, 2025. He was 51 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Benton’s family and friends."
The charges for Benton relate to the period June 2017 to September 2021 and as well as being jailed, was handed a restraining order for life.
Nikki McMurray, from the adult care abuse investigation team at West Midlands Police, said at the time: “Benton took advantage of a vulnerable woman for his own sexual gratification.
"We are pleased with the sentence which sends out a clear message that people who behave in this appalling way will be convicted and will spend many years behind bars.
“We are thankful to the brave woman who came forward and spoke to us. We hope her bravery encourages other people subjected to sexual abuse to come forward.”
