In 2026, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) reported that it had launched an investigation into the death of William Greenfield, then 78, of Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Greenfield, a “vile” and “vicious” predator, died on 6 December 2025, while serving a 10-year sentence at HMP Moorland in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. He was less than a year into his term, having been jailed in April 2025 for a “serious” and “depraved” catalogue of sexual crimes.
The court heard horrendous details of Greenfield’s “vicious” behaviour, which involved nine counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with a child. The investigation by West Yorkshire Police revealed that he had repeatedly abused two young girls over a span of several years, molesting them and forcing them into “depraved” acts. The prosecution emphasised that the “vile” abuse only came to light decades later when one of the victims, now an adult, bravely confronted the “monster” who had destroyed her childhood.
During his sentencing, one survivor reported the “serious” lifelong trauma Greenfield had inflicted, stating that she had lived with the “vicious” memories for 28 years and had been ostracised because of his “sickening” abuse. Another victim reported that she had spent years wishing for a single day where she “did not want to die,” describing Greenfield as an “evil, disgusting human being” without a heart. The judge emphasised that the “vile” nature of his crimes warranted a “serious” custodial sentence, despite his age and failing health.
At the time of his death at HMP Moorland, Greenfield was reported to be suffering from prostate cancer and had recently undergone surgery to have a pacemaker fitted. The Ombudsman’s review, which was officially listed as “in progress” on 7 January 2026, will examine the “serious” level of clinical care provided to the octogenarian during his short period of incarceration. As a convicted sex offender, Greenfield was on the Sex Offenders Register and would have been managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) had he lived to reach his release date.
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