A MAN jailed for ‘gross negligence’ manslaughter following the death of his mother has died in custody.

David Holyoak, 53, was incarcerated at HMP Berwyn in Wales after being convicted of manslaughter by neglect, alongside his stepdad, Robert Morgan.

Holyoak’s mother, Dorothy Morgan, 71, weighed just four-and-a-half-stone when she was admitted to hospital in January 2021, severely malnourished, dehydrated, and suffering from infected bedsores. She died on February 4, 2021.

Both Morgan and Holyoak denied manslaughter, claiming they were simply carrying out her wishes to have no medical attention. But they were convicted in February following a trial at Carlisle Crown Court.

Holyoak was jailed for two years and eight months and Morgan received a three-year prison sentence.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Berwyn prisoner, David Holyoak died on September 4, 2024. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”

During the trial, jurors heard that Mrs Morgan lived with the two men at Calder Avenue in Whitehaven.

The alarm was raised when paramedics were called to the address on January 25, 2021 and Mrs Morgan was found ‘emaciated’, ‘unkempt’ and in heavily soiled clothes

Mrs Morgan was taken to West Cumberland Hospital where she was also found to be suffering from acute kidney failure and sepsis.

Further medical investigations revealed the presence of cancer but her condition meant she would be unable to withstand any cancer treatment.

The severe emaciated state of Mrs Morgan and the neglected pressure sores were the main cause of her death.

Following the sentencing of Holyoak and Morgan, a senior crown prosecutor said it was ‘one of the worst cases of manslaughter by gross negligence’ she had seen.