October 2021

Serial paedophile found in cell gasping for breath suffers miserable death

A serial paedophile died from Covid after he was found on his cell floor gasping for breath.

Ronald Carmichael, who was serving a 20-year jail term for abusing several girls, had refused to shield while at HMP Hull, a report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman said.

Carmichael, 84, was found in his cell on October 30, 2020, and was taken to hospital where he died

The report said despite suffering lung diseases, high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, asthma and diabetes, Carmichael had become ‘fed up’ with the prison’s Covid restrictions.

Carmichael, who was jailed for nine years in 2011 for sexually assaulting two young girls, had signed a disclaimer saying he was aware of the risks of not shielding against coronavirus.

The pensioner, from Grimsby, was given another 11 years in 2016 for rape and 14 counts of indecent assault.

The report stated Ronald Carmichael died in hospital of Covid-19 pneumonia, while he was still a prisoner at HMP Hull.

The report noted the 84-year-old’s medical conditions put him at risk of becoming seriously ill if he contracted Covid-19 and, prison healthcare staff explained this to him and advised him to shield.

Although he initially followed the advice he changed his mind from May onwards until, in October, he contracted the virus and was transferred to hospital with breathing difficulties. He died two weeks later.

The report said: “Mr Carmichael had several long-term health conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD – the name for a collection of lung diseases), high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (which causes an irregular heartbeat), asthma and diabetes. He was obese, suffered from osteoarthritis and was a wheelchair user.

“Despite his medical conditions, Mr Carmichael’s health was relatively stable and, in the year before his death, he did not have much contact with healthcare staff except for routine matters, such as blood tests.

His death was the first from Covid-19 at Hull, although there have been two further deaths from coronavirus since.

In 2016, Judge Kate Buckingham oversaw a second trial against Carmichael for offences against five girls which represented a “course of conduct” over a number of years.

Nine of the offences in the second trial, including rape, were against one girl in Grimsby and involved a “prolonged course of sexual abuse”.

Carmichael told her to shut up and that nobody would believe her.

“She felt disgusted and sick,” said Judge Buckingham.

The girl had suffered “significant psychological harm” and her distress was obvious when she gave evidence to the jury.

“It had a profound and far-reaching effect upon her life,” added Judge Buckingham.

Four other offences were against a second girl and two others were against a third.

Carmichael was jailed for nine years in 2011 after indecently assaulting two young girls – “ruining the life” of one and causing “extreme damage” to the other.

Aged 75 and residing at Walmsgate Walk, in Grimsby at the time of his trial, he denied one offence of rape and seven of indecent assault.

He took advantage of the girls to indulge in sexual activity with them on a number of occasions. One of the girls had been left so traumatised by her ordeal that it was a long time before she felt able to report it and make an official complaint.

Recorder Euan Duff told Carmichael: “This was repeat sexual offending against two young girls aged then under 13. Your conduct and the damage you have caused is so serious that only a substantial custodial sentence is possible.

“Abuse of this type causes enormous damage to children who are abused.”

He said of the first victim: “You have ruined her life.”

HMP Hull holds up to 1,056 men in ten wings and the City Healthcare Partnership provides health services at the prison with GP surgeries held four days a week and an out of hours service at other times.

Carmichael was the 11th prisoner at Hull to die since November 2018 at the time of the report. Of the previous deaths, four were from natural causes, five were self-inflicted, and one was from an unknown cause.

February 2016

80-year-old paedophile jailed for another 11 years

A SERIAL sex offender aged 80 whose home was a “honeypot for young teenagers” has been jailed for 11 years for “depraved” offences against three girls.

He is already serving a nine-year sentence for offences against two other girls – meaning his overall prison terms total 20 years.

Ronald Carmichael, formerly of Grimsby, denied 15 offences, including one of rape and 14 of indecent assault, dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, but was convicted by a jury after a trial at Hull Crown Court.

August 2011

OAP jailed for sex abuse

PENSIONER Ronald Carmichael has been jailed for nine years after indecently assaulting two young girls – “ruining the life” of one and causing “extreme damage” to the other.

Carmichael, 75, of Walmsgate Walk, Grimsby, denied one offence of rape and seven of indecent assault.

He was convicted by a jury after a trial at Grimsby Crown Court of the seven indecent assault offences. Some of the verdicts were on 11 to one or 10 to two majority decisions. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the rape matter and the charge will now lie on file.

Caroline Wigin, prosecuting, told the court: “These were serious offences over a long period involving two girls.”

Carmichael took advantage of the girls to indulge in sexual activity with them on a number of occasions. One of the girls had been left so traumatised by her ordeal that it was a long time before she felt able to report it and make an official complaint.

Recorder Euan Duff told Carmichael: “This was repeat sexual offending against two young girls aged then under 13. Your conduct and the damage you have caused is so serious that only a substantial custodial sentence is possible.

“Abuse of this type causes enormous damage to children who are abused.”

He said of the first victim: “You have ruined her life.” The second girl had been caused “extreme damage”.

Carmichael was given an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and was told to register as a sex offender for life.

Craig Lowe, mitigating after the verdicts, said Carmichael had previous convictions, including for dishonesty, but none for sexual or violence offences. It would be his first taste of prison.

He suffered from asthma and would find prison particularly difficult, Mr Lowe said. Carmichael had been in custody since Friday, when the first of the guilty verdicts were returned.