In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that 85-year-old David Rogers was found dead at HMP Dartmoor. Rogers—a former soldier and plasterer—was serving a 16-year sentence for the sexual abuse of a boy and two girls over a period of almost a decade. It was reported that Rogers, formerly of Frontfield Crescent, Southway, Plymouth, died on 12 December 2018, just over a year after he was incarcerated for his historical crimes.
The investigation established that Rogers had molested children, including a victim as young as four, during the 1930s and 1940s while he was in his 30s and 40s. Devon and Cornwall Police reported that the offences were committed in both Plymouth and Sunderland. The prosecution reported that Rogers pleaded guilty in 2017 to 13 counts of indecent assault and three counts of indecency with a child, ending a decades-long wait for justice for his victims.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Rogers had enjoyed a distinguished 17-year career in the Army and worked as a plasterer for 30 years following his service. Plymouth Crown Court heard in July 2017 that the gravity of his crimes against three young children necessitated a lengthy custodial term, despite his advanced age. The investigation established that the judge had explicitly told Rogers during sentencing that it was highly likely he would die behind bars, as he would not have been eligible for release until the age of 92.
A Prison Service spokesperson confirmed the death in custody, noting that an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman would follow. It was understood that Rogers was found hanging within the Category C prison. For his actions in Plymouth and Sunderland, Rogers had finally been held accountable in his 80s, bringing a conclusion to a case that spanned multiple decades and two different regions of the UK.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in England, the status of David Rogers as of April 2, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: DECEASED (12 December 2018; HMP Dartmoor).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (16-year sentence; Sentenced July 2017).
- Investigation Status: Death in custody subject to Prisons and Probation Ombudsman review.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court; investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police.
- Criminal Record: Indecent assault (13 counts); Indecency with a child (3 counts).
- Origin: Southway, Plymouth, Devon; Offences also committed in Sunderland.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Prior to his death, Rogers was managed as a high-risk historical sex offender within the national prison estate. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved the prolonged abuse of three children over many years, his management was a priority for the Devon and Cornwall MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) team during his brief time in custody. Authorities state that the conviction of an offender in their 80s serves as a reminder that there is no time limit on seeking justice for child abuse.
As a deceased prisoner, Rogers’ records remain on the national police database for historical reference and to assist in any further potential cold case reviews. Authorities state that the Ombudsman’s investigation will look into the circumstances of his death and the mental health support provided to elderly inmates serving long-term sentences for historical sex offences. For his actions in Plymouth and Sunderland, Rogers remained under total custodial supervision until his death in 2018.
QUESTION – Given that the judge correctly predicted this offender would die in prison, do you believe that very elderly offenders should be housed in specialist geriatric prison wings to prevent them from taking their own lives before they have served their full punishment?
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