Father and stepson jailed for gross negligence manslaughter

A man and his stepson have been jailed today at Carlisle Crown Court after being found guilty of manslaughter, following the death of Dorothy Morgan in Whitehaven in February 2021.

Robert Morgan, 60, was jailed for three years and David Holyoak, 52, was jailed for two years and eight months.

The deceased, Dorothy Morgan, was Morgan’s wife and Holyoak’s mother.

The alarm was raised on 25 January 2021, when paramedics were called to the address in Whitehaven, Cumbria, where Mrs Morgan lived with the two men.

Mrs Morgan was found emaciated, unkempt and in heavily soiled clothes. She was suffering from pressure sores in various areas and ulceration where pressure sores had become inflamed and infected.

Mrs Morgan was taken to West Cumberland Hospital where she was also found to be suffering from acute kidney failure and sepsis. She was extremely underweight, and her toes were gangrenous.

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

She sadly died on 4 February 2021. A pathologist confirmed that she had a malignant tumour on her right lung, but they confirmed that the tumour had played no part in her death.

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

Further investigation by a geriatrician revealed that the pressure ulceration would have been increasing in severity for at least three weeks and possibly six weeks, before she developed sepsis.

The level of dehydration was such that Mrs Morgan had not had adequate fluids for around seven to 10 days.

The doctor confirmed that the presence of gangrenous toes suggested that the dehydration levels were at the upper end of the range and Mrs Morgan would have been drowsy for two to three days before any medical attention was sought.

Despite the post-mortem examination and other medical evidence, both Morgan and Holyoak denied manslaughter, claiming they were simply carrying out her wishes to have no medical attention.

Both pleaded not guilty, but were convicted after a trial at Carlisle Crown Court. Sentencing took place at Carlisle Crown Court on 25 March 2024.

Gail O’Brien, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West complex casework unit, said: ”This is one of the worst cases of manslaughter by gross negligence I have seen.

“Both men let Mrs Morgan suffer and did nothing to help her, until it was too late.

“Richard Morgan and David Holyoak will now have time in prison to consider their inactions and the death of their family member to whom they had a duty of care.

“My thoughts are very much with Dorothy Morgan’s loved ones.”