A rapist who terrorised women and girls over a 45 year period has died in prison.
Dennis Smalley was jailed for 25 years in March, 2016 after he was found guilty of 25 rapes, 16 counts of either indecent assault or indecency with a child, two serious sexual offences and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
An official report published on Monday by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman confirms Smalley, 70, died in hospital of Covid pneumonia on March 16 , reports the Manchester Evening News.
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The report from the body which which carries out independent investigations into complaints and deaths in custody says Smalley had not left HMP Wakefield - nicknamed 'Monster Mansion' - in the weeks before he became ill and 'it appears, therefore, that he caught Covid-19 in prison'.
It goes on to say, however, that investigators were satisfied the prison had 'appropriate policies and procedures in place and had taken reasonable steps to manage the risk to prisoners, including Mr Smalley, of being infected'.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Smalley's abuse started in the 1970s and continued for almost 45 years.
The Manchester Evening News previously reported Smalley, from Hindley in Wigan, attacked one woman shortly after she had given birth.
One woman was raped, sexually abused and attacked by him for more than a decade, and many of his victims were young teenagers.
A senior detective who led the investigation into the former military bandsman said he left a 'trail of destruction' through the lives of his 11 victims.
Detective Constable Claire Hughes said after the court sentencing hearing: "I have had the displeasure of dealing with some truly repugnant individuals during my time with Greater Manchester Police, but Dennis Smalley is without doubt one of the worst I have ever encountered.
"He is a man seemingly incapable of inflicting anything other than misery upon the unfortunate women and girls he encountered during his life.
"The trail of destruction this man wreaked through the lives of so many young girls and women is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to repair.
"But I hope that in some way they can take some solace from the fact that this monster is now behind bars for the rest of his life."
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report says Smalley first followed advice from staff at the prison to shield due to coronavirus in 2020.
He received his first dose of a vaccination on February 25 this year, but tested positive on March 2.
The report adds his condition deteriorated and he was taken to hospital on March 11, where he died five days later.
"The clinical reviewer concluded that Mr Smalley's clinical care at Wakefield was of a good standard and equivalent to that which he could have expected in the community.
"We found no non-clinical issues of concern," says the report.
"Mr Smalley had not left Wakefield in the weeks before he became ill and it appears, therefore, that he caught COVID-19 in prison."
Smalley was the 26th prisoner at Wakefield to die since March, 2019.
Two were self-inflicted and the others from natural causes, says the report.
Anyone with information or wants to report a sexual offence is asked to call 101 where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Support for victims is also available through the registered charity the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre Cheshire and Merseyside, who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063 or Rape and Sexual Assault Merseyside (RASA) on 0151 558 1801. In an emergency, always call 999.
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