A 62 year old inmate at HMP Channings Wood died. An inquest has begun to investigate the circumstances of the death
An inquest started on February 19. Deborah Archer is the area coroner, and the inquest was held at Exeter County Hall, Devon’s main coroner’s court. The inquest concerns Dirk Weissenbruch’s death.
He was born in Hellensbrough, Scotland, and lived at HMP Channings Wood when he died on January 18, 2025. He was single and worked as a builder.
He got lung cancer in November 2024 while he was at HMP Channings Wood. His condition worsened despite treatment, and he sadly died.
The medical cause of death is known and includes hospital-linked pneumonia. Metastatic small cell lung carcinoma and polymyalgia rheumatica also contributed to his death.
The hearing paused. A full inquest will occur later.
Mr. Weissenbruch was from Bradford-on-Avon. He got a 24-year jail sentence in September 2023 for indecent assaults on a girl under 14 and two rapes.