A "trusted" teacher who abused two young girls has died in prison. Iain McDowall was jailed for 10 years after being found guilty of two charges of sexual assault on a child under 13 and another serious sexual charge.After he was jailed in July 2019 McDowall spent four years in prison before being moved to HMP Haverigg, an open prison, in 2023. Just a month after being transferred McDowall was on an organised 10km run at the prison when he collapsed and died.
The ombudsman's report, published this month, revealed that, after McDowall collapsed on April 10 last year, several members of prison staff attempted to resuscitate him. A defibrillator was also used but failed to restart his heart. He was pronounced dead a short time later. "Mr McDowall had no known medical conditions and had appeared fit and well prior to his collapse. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr McDowall received at Haverigg was of a good standard and was equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community. She found that the emergency response was delivered very well. She made no recommendations.