Nathan Walters was given an indeterminate jail sentence in 2012 over a deadly florist theft in Old Trafford
The household of a jailed armed robber who died of most cancers weren’t informed he was terminally ailing for greater than 4 months, an investigation discovered.
Nathan Walters, of Salford, died in a hospice in April 2023. The 38-year-old was serving a imprisonment for public safety (IPP) sentence for his function in a infamous armed theft at a florists in Old Trafford in July 2011.
After being confronted by 4 males with weapons and a knife as he locked up his Feathers, Frills and Flowers store in Shrewsbury Street, the 72-year-old florist Cecil Coley fatally stabbed one of many intruders, Gary Mullings, 30, of New Moston, in self-defence throughout a battle. Mr Coley was later arrested on suspicion of his homicide, however the Crown Prosecution Service determined he acted in self-defence.
The following yr Walters, then 26, admitted robbing Mr Coley at gun-point. He was given an indeterminate jail sentence and ordered to serve a minimal of 5 years and 7 months.
Brothers Joseph Junior Mullings, 24, of Oakfield, Liverpool, and Kyle Mullings, 19, of no fastened tackle, have been additionally given IPP sentences for his or her roles within the raid.
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman printed at this time (Saturday) stated Walters was admitted to hospital on September 7, 2022 after blood assessments confirmed he had extreme anaemia and was then discovered to have a ‘malignant tumour within the bowel’. He informed a nurse he didn’t need his household to be informed about his ailing well being.
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He had surgical procedure to take away the tumour, however the next month it was found the most cancers had unfold and Walters was informed he wanted chemotherapy. Three days later Walters informed his key employee he had talked to his household about his sickness.
In December Walters was informed he required palliative care, then in February 2023, he was informed he had simply months to stay. He was transferred first to hospital after which a hospice earlier than he died on April 22.
But the ombudsman discovered Walters’ household have been solely informed of his sickness on February 15, 2023. When his sister was knowledgeable concerning the seriousness of his situation she was stated to be ‘in shock’.
The ombudsman stated Walters ought to have been assigned a household liaison officer in October 2022 when he was informed his tumour was at a sophisticated stage. Another alternative to contact the household was missed when palliative care was organized in December that yr.
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The ombudsman wrote: “From February 17, 2023 onwards, Mr Walters’ sister visited him ceaselessly and was at his bedside when he died. She informed us in June 2023 that she was involved concerning the lack of communication from Lancaster Farms about Mr Walters’ sickness.
“While we word that Mr Walters informed his keyworker that he had spoken to his household about his sickness on October 14, 2022, a household liaison officer ought to have been appointed sooner to make sure Mr Walters’ household was given ample help and details about his well being earlier than his dying.”
The ombudsman really helpful the governor ‘be sure that a household liaison officer is appointed when a prisoner turns into significantly ailing and that applicable preparations are made to make sure early contact with households’.
An inquest in August 2025 concluded Walters died of pure causes.
