HMP Five Wells prisoner dies aged 78
A fifteenth prisoner connected to HMP Five Wells has died.
Prisoner Derrick Johnson, 78, has died in hospital while he was a serving prisoner at HMP Five Wells.
Mr Johnson is the fifteenth prisoner to die at the Wellingborough jail, or shortly after release, since the prison opened in February 2022.
He died on August 15.
His cause of death has not been revealed and will be subject to a coronial investigation.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has opened its own probe into the death, as is standard with all deaths in custody.
At least four of the 15 prisoner deaths have occurred post-release, which is a time when convicts are considered to be very vulnerable as they often have insecure housing and a gap between leaving prison and having access to any income. Five of the deaths have occurred in the first eight months of 2026.
The other prisoners to die are John Boswell, Brian Haines, Dean Newton, Nicholas Lowe, Tudor Owen, Jason McDonagh, Roger Lemon, Reece Pryce, Kevin Golby, Harold Day, Kenny Grubb, Keith Potts, and Anthony Foster.
The name of the first prisoner to die has never been made public.
The PPO publicly investigates every death in custody ensure that any mistakes that may have led to that death are highlighted and remedied.
An HMP Five Wells spokesperson said: “Mr Derrick Johnson died at an outside hospital on August 15 2026.
“As with all deaths in custody, this will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and the cause of death is for the coroner to determine.”