A former Colchester paedophile teacher and Scout master, Russell Howard-Tricker, convicted of paedophilia and sentenced to 14 years for the abuse of two adolescent boys, has died in prison.
Russell Howard-Tricker groomed and abused a youngster for several years while employed as a teacher at a Colchester school during the 1960s.
He was convicted after a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court in October 2019.
Russell Howard-Tricker, aged 83, also captured explicit photographs of a boy he was acquainted with through the scouts at a caravan in St Osyth and perpetrated abuse against him during the same timeframe.
During the police investigation, authorities discovered that Russell Howard-Tricker was residing in Prague. He was apprehended at Birmingham Airport on December 21, 2018, and subsequently charged.
Russell Howard-Tricker passed away at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire on March 18 at the age of 83, and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) is conducting an investigation into his death.
The PPO examines the fatalities of inmates, juveniles in custody, inhabitants of authorised facilities, and individuals held under immigration legislation.
It also examines individuals who perish within 14 days of their release from incarceration, unless a homicide investigation is underway.
A representative of the Prison Service stated: “Russell Howard-Tricker passed away on 18 March 2025 at HMP Littlehey.”
“As with all deaths in custody, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”
After the Russell Howard-Tricker’s hearing in 2019, both victims spoke about the devastation that had been caused by Howard-Tricker’s actions.
The first victim said: “I was groomed and sexually abused from the age of 13.
“In the years since, I have felt shame, self-doubt, isolation and depression.
“I was encouraged by seeing other cases in the media to finally face up to getting the help I needed, and from that came a successful prosecution.
“This has given me a sense of closure.”
The second victim became dependent on alcohol and suffered depression after being abused.
He said: “I would drink up to ten pints a day at the worst points, and my dependency went on for decades.
“It led to me getting a drink and drive conviction, to losing my job after that, to eventually my first wife leaving me.
“I felt degraded by what Russell Howard-Tricker did to me and felt I could never tell anyone, so I just locked all my feelings away.”
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the people highlighted on this website, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report to Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.