Inquests have been opened into the deaths of two prisoners who were serving custodial sentences in Cambridgeshire.  

Darren Barker, 46, was serving his prison sentence at HMP Peterborough and died at Peterborough City Hospital on September 12.  

At the brief hearing, the provisional cause of Mr Barker’s death was given as 1A Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer. 

Simon Milburn, one of the area coroners for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, opened the inquests yesterday (Thursday) at Lawrence Court, in Huntingdon.  

He also opened an inquest into the death of 88-year-old Philip Sleigh who died at HMP Littlehey, in Huntingdon, on September 17.  

Mr Sleigh’s provisional cause of death was recorded as 1A Dementia.  

Mr Milburn explained both matters require inquests because the prisoners died in custody.  

The coroner did not say why the men were serving prison sentences. 

Both inquests will be held at future dates to be confirmed.