Killer serving life at 'Monster Mansion' died after 'oxygen mask removed'

02.04.2022 - 13:37 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

A murderer jailed for life at a prison in Yorkshire died in hospital after catching Covid-19.

Thomas Wolens, sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murder and robbery in 1988, had spent time in several prisons before he was moved to HMP Wakefield, dubbed the Monster Mansion, in January 2020 to live on a dedicated wing for personality disorder treatment.

A report into his death prepared by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman said Wolens had a history of health issues, including heart failure, angina, type 2 diabetes and mental health problems. He also had a mild learning disability, which affected his ability to read and write so healthcare staff noted he should be given information in easy read format.

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According to YorkshireLive, Wolens was sent to hospital by ambulance on February 19, 2021, after he fell in his cell and his blood oxygen saturation was found to be very low. The next day he tested positive for Covid-19 and was treated using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, as well as intravenous medication.

On February 22, Wolens said that he did not wish to be resuscitated if his heart or breathing stopped, and end of life care was started and the prison informed his niece. Wolens then asked for the CPAP mask to be removed and hospital staff complied with his wishes, as they were satisfied he had the mental capacity to make this decision.

He died at 8.30pm on February 23, aged 67. The cause of death was listed as Covid-19 pneumonia, although it was not clear where he had contracted the illness.

The report concluded: "The clinical reviewer concluded that Mr