Investigation launched after prisoner dies at Buckley Hall the day after his birthday

Thursday, 12 June 2025 08:57

By David Murphy

An independent investigation is underway after the death of a 64 year old man at HMP Buckley Hall in Rochdale, just one day after his birthday.

A man serving a life sentence for murdering his wife has died at HMP Buckley Hall in Rochdale.

Russell Trelore, aged 64, was found dead on Monday 27 May 2025 at the category C men’s training prison. His death, which occurred the day after his birthday, is now the subject of an official investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO).

Trelore had been jailed in 2011 for the fatal stabbing of his wife, Sara Trelore, at their home in North Row, Barrow-in-Furness, in November 2010. The 44 year old victim died at the scene from 19 stab wounds. Police had been called to the property on 22 November after a neighbour reported hearing a disturbance.

Trelore initially denied the charge of murder but changed his plea to guilty partway through his trial at Preston Crown Court. He was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years and 190 days.

The PPO has confirmed that an investigation into his death is now “in progress”, as is standard in all deaths occurring in prison custody. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and neither the prison service nor the Ministry of Justice have released a public statement.

HMP Buckley Hall, located on Buckley Hill Lane in Rochdale, holds adult male prisoners and operates as a resettlement prison focusing on rehabilitation and training.

National figures published by the Ministry of Justice earlier this year show a marked rise in deaths across the prison estate, with 359 recorded in 2024, a 16 per cent increase on the previous year.

No inquest date has yet been confirmed.