In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Simon Gerrard, 54, died of natural causes while serving a 19-year extended sentence for a series of horrific sexual offences against children. On appearing at Liverpool Crown Court in September 2023, the defendant, of Cherry Tree Lane, Aughton, West Lancashire, was jailed for his role in a campaign of rape and abuse that spanned the 1990s and 2000s. It was reported that Gerrard targeted young boys in Sefton Park, Liverpool, and at a Butlin’s holiday park, subjecting one victim to years of systematic sexual violence.
The investigation established the predatory and dangerous nature of Gerrard’s conduct over several decades. Merseyside Police reported that a jury found Gerrard guilty of 21 child sexual offences, including child rape, attempted child rape, and indecent assault. The prosecution reported that Gerrard had a history of seeking out children; in 2018, he was handed a community order after being caught in a paedophile hunter sting at Ormskirk Bus Station, where he had arranged to meet a decoy posing as a 12-year-old girl.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Gerrard was a dangerous offender whose actions had a devastating impact on his victims. Liverpool Crown Court heard that his crimes involved “sickening” attacks on boys during his late 20s. The investigation established that despite his 2018 conviction, Gerrard’s historical crimes only resulted in a significant prison term in late 2023, when he was handed 14 years in custody with an additional five-year licence period.
The Sentencing Judge in 2023 described Gerrard as a significant risk to the public. For his actions in Aughton and Liverpool, he was initially imprisoned at HMP Liverpool before being moved to HMP Isle of Wight. The judge noted that the length of the sentence was necessary to reflect the gravity of the 21 offences and the lifelong trauma inflicted upon the survivors.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Simon Gerrard is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 14 years with a 5-year extended licence (Sentenced 2023).
- Status: Deceased (19 June 2024).
- Cause of Death: Bladder Cancer (Natural Causes).
- Location of Death: HMP Isle of Wight.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court following a Merseyside Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Child rape (multiple counts); Attempted child rape; Indecent assault; Communication with a child for sexual purposes (2018).
- Origin: Cherry Tree Lane, Aughton, West Lancashire.
Post-Mortem Investigation and Findings
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) published an investigation report on 20 March 2026 regarding Gerrard’s death. While the clinical care provided was deemed equivalent to what he would have received in the community, the report highlighted a “poor information sharing” failure during his transfer from HMP Liverpool to HMP Isle of Wight. It was reported that Gerrard was transferred while under active investigation for blood in his urine, but this vital medical information was not handed over to the receiving prison for a month.
Authorities state that while this delay likely did not change the terminal outcome of his bladder cancer, it represented a significant administrative failure. In response, HMP Liverpool has implemented a new competency framework for registered nurses to ensure medical holds and transfer screenings are handled correctly. Gerrard’s 19-year sentence was cut short by his death less than a year after his conviction, ending the period of judicial monitoring and public protection that had been mandated by the court.
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