A prisoner who refused treatment for an ongoing illness died suddenly in custody, an inquest heard.

Gary Davis, 48, an inmate at HMP Littlehey, in Perry, was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital on September 23 last year.

An inquest held at Lawrence Court, Huntingdon, on Thursday (March 3), heard that Davis was suffering with high blood pressure and a tear in a major artery in his heart.

Senior coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough David Heming was told that Davis had undergone a kidney replacement and a valve replacement in the years prior which he was supposed to be receiving treatment for.

Dr Ruth Bastable, of Northants NHS Trust, said: “He didn’t like attending doctors’ appointments or giving blood so he didn’t have any follow up from his surgery.”

In September last year Davis became very unwell and was taken to hospital for treatment where the tear in a major artery was found.

Dr David Fisher, of Hinchingbrooke Hospital, said: “During his time in hospital discussions were conducted with Papworth Hospital, it was decided that surgery would outweigh the benefit so it was decided that his blood pressure and the tear would be monitored.”

Over the next couple of days Davis’s health deteriorated and he died on September 25.

Following his death an investigation was carried out by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman and Dr Frank Voeten.

In a statement, Dr Voeten said: “The care provided to Mr Davis whilst in prison was equivalent to that available to people in the community, there was no restriction.”

Mr Heming concluded that he died of natural causes following an “unexpected event of aortic dissection.”