Child rapist Arthur Bonner died of cancer while on prison release

Arthur John Bonner was convicted of four sexual offences at Salisbury Crown Court on July 4, 2016.

Bonner was found guilty of rape, buggery of a male under 16, indecent assault of a male and sexual assault of a female following a week-long trial.

All of the offences took place in Salisbury, two in the early 1970s, one in 1993 and the other in 2014.

Bonner was jailed for 14 years and six months but died of lung cancer during compassionate release from prison on August 14 last year.

Read more: ​Rapist Arthur Bonner jailed for 14-and-a-half years

An independent investigation into Bonner's death was published by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman on Friday, April 19.

Bonner’s wife and daughter said that in March/April 2022, he had complained about pain and there were delays with follow up investigations until his diagnosis.

They felt this had impacted his life expectancy and said they were frustrated when contacting Bonner’s community offender manager, according to the report.

Arthur John Bonner. (Image: File)

This report mentioned how Bonner had tested positive for Covid on April 11, 2022, while at HMP Hollesley Bay but was referred to hospital on June 30 as he had lost weight, felt lethargic and generally felt unwell.

A CT scan here revealed a mass in his right lung on June 30 and Bonner was subsequently diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer in October.

This incurable cancer, which had spread to his liver and legs, was causing Bonner to deteriorate quickly and arrangements for his temporary release from prison were made in January 2023.

Care plans were drawn up and Bonner had monthly supervision appointments with his community offending manager while he was released on temporary licence.

During a day release on July 15, Bonner's family were concerned about how ill he looked and took him to hospital.

Ten days later, hospital specialists told healthcare staff at Hollesley Bay that Bonner had terminal cancer and an application for compassionate release was sought.

Bonner was transferred to a hospice on August 7 until his compassionate release application was approved.

His family informed His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service a week later that Bonner had died at home, his cause of death being carcinomatosis due to malignant tumour of the lung.

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Following Bonner's sentencing, an NSPCC spokesperson for South West England said: "Bonner was a serial sex offender, responsible for a series of horrendous offences over a number of decades.

"His vulnerable victims included children, and he acted with no regard for the consequences his despicable actions had on the youngsters.

"Abuse can ruin childhoods and affect individuals into adulthood, so it's vital anyone affected can access the support they need rather than suffer in silence, as sadly so many do."

Wiltshire Police encourages anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to report it on 101, or Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) on 0808 168 0024.