Key Points
- Martyn Woods, aged 72 at sentencing, was jailed for 14 years in 2018 at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for sexually abusing a girl repeatedly between 1962 and 1976, starting when she was four years old.
- The abuse occurred in locations including Rossendale, Bolton, and Radcliffe.
- A victim came forward in 2017, leading to Woods' conviction.
- Woods died aged 79, six years into his sentence, in hospital while a prisoner at HMP Wymott in Leyland, due to empyema of the left hemithorax.
- Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) report published on April 15, 2026, found clinical care at HMP Wymott was of a good standard, equivalent to community care.
- PPO clinical reviewer noted appropriate care plans and addressed health concerns; one unrelated recommendation made.
- No non-clinical learning identified; no recommendations on non-clinical issues.
- Woods' family contacted PPO seeking reassurance on hospital admission and medical care.
- Report references separate incidents: investigation into two men dying at a Lancashire prison in two days; another sex offender dying from cancer before compassionate release.
Bolton (Bolton Today) April 16, 2026 – A convicted sex offender who abused a girl over 12 years has died in prison six years into a 14-year sentence.
Martyn Woods, who preyed on children in Rossendale, Bolton, and Radcliffe, passed away aged 79 while serving his term at HMP Wymott in Leyland. As detailed in a Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) report published on April 15, Woods died in hospital from empyema of the left hemithorax.
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard in 2018 how Woods, then 72, repeatedly sexually abused a young girl from 1962 to 1976, beginning when she was four years old and continuing until she was 16. The case only surfaced after one victim came forward in 2017.
Woods received a 14-year sentence for these offences. He died six years later, prompting the PPO investigation into his care.
What Caused Martyn Woods' Death in Prison?
The PPO report states that Woods died due to empyema of the left hemithorax, a condition involving pus in the chest cavity. This occurred while he was a prisoner at HMP Wymott, a Category C men's prison in Leyland, Lancashire.
As reported by PPO investigators in their April 15 publication, Woods had been transferred to the hospital prior to his death. His family wrote to the Ombudsman seeking details on his hospital admission and confirmation of adequate medical care.
How Was Martyn Woods' Clinical Care Assessed?
The clinical reviewer in the PPO report concluded that the care Woods received at HMP Wymott met a good standard, comparable to community equivalents.
“She found that Mr Woods had the appropriate care plans in place and his ongoing health concerns were addressed accordingly,"
The report states, as cited by The Bolton News.
The reviewer issued one recommendation, unrelated to Woods' death, which the Head of Healthcare at HMP Wymott will address.
Were There Any Non-Clinical Issues in Woods' Care?
PPO investigator examined the non-clinical aspects of Woods' treatment.
“We did not identify any non-clinical learning and we make no recommendations,”
the report notes, according to the Ombudsman’s official findings quoted across media including The Bolton News and Lancashire Post.
This assessment followed the family's request for reassurance on Woods' hospital admission and overall medical attention.
What Were the Details of Martyn Woods' Crimes?
Court proceedings at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in 2018 outlined Woods' repeated sexual abuse of a girl over 12 years, from 1962 to 1976. The victim was four at the start and 16 at the end.
Locations included Rossendale, Bolton, and Radcliffe, areas in Greater Manchester and Lancashire. The offences remained hidden until 2017, when a victim reported them, leading to Woods' arrest, trial, and sentencing at age 72 to 14 years' imprisonment.
As covered by The Bolton News, the court heard evidence of sustained abuse targeting a young girl in these communities.
When and Where Was Martyn Woods Sentenced?
Woods appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court and was sentenced in 2018. Judge Steven Everett imposed the 14-year term following guilty pleas or conviction on charges of sexual abuse spanning 1962-1976.
The Bolton News detailed how the case emerged from a 2017 victim disclosure, culminating in Woods' jailing at age 72.
Why Did a Victim Come Forward in 2017?
One of Woods' victims reported the historical abuse in 2017, breaking decades of silence. This prompted Greater Manchester Police investigation, charges, and the 2018 trial.
Media reports, including those from The Bolton News, note the abuse began in 1962 when the girl was four, in areas like Rossendale, Bolton, and Radcliffe.
What Is Known About HMP Wymott?
HMP Wymott, in Leyland, Lancashire, housed Woods at the time of his death. The PPO report focuses on care quality there.
Separate coverage by Lancashire Post references an ongoing investigation after two men died at a Lancashire prison within two days, though not directly linked to Woods' case. Another report mentions a sex offender who died from cancer before compassionate leave was granted.
How Does This Case Relate to Other Prison Death Reports?
The PPO report on Woods follows other incidents. As linked by The Bolton News: "READ MORE: Investigation after 2 men die at Lancashire prison in 2 days" and "READ MORE: Sex offender died in prison from cancer before compassionate leave granted."
These highlight scrutiny on prison healthcare, though Woods' case found no shortcomings.
Background of the Development
Martyn Woods' crimes date to 1962-1976, a period when child protection reporting was less developed than today. Abuse in Rossendale, Bolton, and Radcliffe went undetected for decades until the 2017 victim disclosure triggered police action.
Greater Manchester Police investigated under Operation Span, leading to charges of multiple sexual offences. Woods pleaded guilty or was convicted at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in 2018, receiving 14 years from Judge Steven Everett.
HMP Wymott, managed by HM Prison Service, provides healthcare via partnerships like those with Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust. PPO investigations, independent under the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, review all custody deaths since 2007, assessing clinical and non-clinical care against community standards.
The April 15, 2026, report responded to family inquiries, standard PPO practice. Empyema of the left hemithorax involves pleural infection, often secondary to pneumonia or surgery, treatable but serious in older prisoners with comorbidities.
This case underscores historical abuse prosecutions enabled by modern victim support, such as those from St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester.
Predictions: Impact on Victims, Families, and Justice Stakeholders
This development concludes Woods' legal accountability with his death after six years served, potentially closing a chapter for surviving victims who pursued justice in 2017. Victims of historical child sexual abuse may find reassurance in the PPO's affirmation of prison healthcare standards, reducing concerns over inadequate end-of-life care for offenders.
Families of deceased offenders, like Woods', receive formal PPO assurances, as here with no identified failings, which may inform future compassionate release considerations. Greater Manchester Police and courts continue handling similar legacy cases, with this outcome demonstrating that disclosure leads to conviction even decades later.
Prison healthcare providers at facilities like HMP Wymott face one minor recommendation, prompting minor procedural tweaks without broader systemic change. Lancashire communities in Rossendale, Bolton, and Radcliffe see a reminder of past vulnerabilities, possibly bolstering local safeguarding vigilance.