'Dangerous' paedophile died two years after being locked up for plying girls with booze and abusing them

A convicted paedophile whose abuse 'cast shade' over his victims' childhoods died two years after being sentenced, a coroner heard. Gerald Coppel was handed a 14-year prison term after plying three girls with alcohol before exposing himself and abusing them.

An inquest into his death has now been opened at Bolton Coroners' Court. Coppel died on February 4 at Salford Royal Hospital, aged 73.

At a pre-inquest review held on Tuesday (May 10), the court heard Coppel had been in custody at Salford's Forest Bank Prison since 2019. Coroner Peter Sigee said that from the evidence submitted to the inquest so far, he understood that Coppel 'came into prison with significant health concerns', which endured throughout the rest of his life.

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Mr Sigee, area coroner for Manchester West, added: "I understand Mr Coppel was never in the main area of the prison. He was always in the healthcare unit at the prison."

The court heard Coppel was transferred to Salford Royal Hospital during the 'final stages of his illness'. Laura Hackney, representing Sodexo Ltd, which operations and healthcare at Forest Bank Prison, told the court Coppel 'had been refusing treatment for his condition' prior to his death.

No further details about Coppel's health condition were given at the pre-inquest review. Mr Sigee has requested Coppel's medical records from when his custody began at Forest Bank Prison, and further information is expected at the final hearing.

A jury is not currently expected to hear the case. Mr Sigee told the court that from the evidence he had seen so far, Coppel had 'died as a result of natural disease