DAVID MAY AND HIS TRAGIC DEATH AT HMP HULL IN YORKSHIRE
A man from Yorkshire who was convicted of grave sexual offenses against young girls and was serving his sentence at HMP Hull has died as a result of heart failure, according to a recent report.David Raymond May, who was 57 years old at the time of his death, was incarcerated for historic crimes that took place between 1996 and 1998.
His imprisonment began in November 2019 when he received a five-year sentence, which was granted after he was found guilty of a disturbing sexual assault committed against a very young and vulnerable girl.
The assault was described as 'sickening' by authorities and involved grooming and isolating the victim in part of his home, where the assault occurred.
The young girl, approximately six or seven years old at the time, had her trust exploited by May, who used monetary offers to gain her trust before committing the abuse.
Prior to this, May had a previous conviction.
In May 2005, he received a six-year imprisonment sentence handed down by Lincoln Crown Court for indecent assaults against a seven-year-old girl during 2003 and 2004.
It was only in 2019, after the historic nature of the offenses was revisited, that he faced the latest charges.
The North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the victim's age was about six or seven at the time of the attack, and the case was brought to police attention in 2018.
May initially denied the allegations, maintaining his innocence until the eve of his trial in November 2019, when he ultimately pleaded guilty.
May’s connection to York was linked to his residence at St Philip’s Grove.
His crimes had a long-lasting impact on the victim, and authorities emphasized the significance of his actions by stating that they caused profound trauma.
While serving his sentence at HMP Hull, May's health issues became increasingly severe.
In January 2021, he reported experiencing persistent cough and chest pains.
Although tests for COVID-19 returned negative results, further medical investigations at Hull Royal Infirmary uncovered that he was suffering from widespread cancer.
Subsequently, he was transferred to St.
James’s University Hospital on April 25, where he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
His treatment involved a combination of chemotherapy drugs, including bleomycin, which is known to have potential complications.
May was discharged from the hospital and returned to Hull on July 25, but his health rapidly declined.
Just a few days later, on July 29, he was found to be unwell again in his cell, exhibiting symptoms consistent with post-chemotherapy effects.
During August, he experienced further health deterioration, with repeated complaints of chest pains, weakness, and shortness of breath.
On one occasion, he was transferred to hospital for assessment, but the situation worsened considerably on August 25 when his condition slipped into critical territory.
Emergency services were called after a four-hour delay for what was initially classified as a non-urgent case.
Once upgraded to emergency status, May was taken to St.
James’s University Hospital early the following morning.
There, he was treated for community-acquired pneumonia, which was part of his declining health.
Despite these efforts, his condition continued to worsen, and on September 16, it was officially confirmed that David May had died in hospital.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman detailed that the cause of death was acute cor pulmonale, a form of heart failure linked to bleomycin toxicity, which is a known side effect of the chemotherapeutic drug May received.
Additionally, he had a disseminated germ cell tumor originating from his testicle, which contributed to his death but did not directly cause it.
The report highlighted that May's health deteriorated significantly due to the complex interplay of his cancer and chemotherapy side effects.
May’s death marked the 14th prisoner to pass away at HMP Hull since September 2019.
Among these deaths, five were due to natural causes, seven were self-inflicted, and one was related to drug overdose.
The investigation into his death found no irregularities or issues outside clinical care.
The report concluded that the healthcare provided to May at Hull was of a reasonable standard comparable to what he would have received in the community.
Recommendations included ensuring accurate recording of clinical observations using the NEWS2 system, better communication among healthcare providers when a prisoner's health condition worsens, and thorough assessments following hospital discharges, to improve the care for inmates in similar situations.
