Landlady’s killer died as he waited to be released
A LODGER who brutally stabbed his landlady to death has died while waiting for his release date.
Kenneth Sibbald died from lung cancer earlier this year while awaiting release from HMP Wymott on compassionate grounds.
In October 2008, Sibbald stabbed Ulrike Ireland five times with a kitchen knife after an argument at their home in South Shields.
The killer had been taken in by Mrs Ireland after becoming homeless following the breakdown of his second marriage.
Sentencing judge Esmond Faulks, told Newcastle Crown Court the motive for the murder was a “complete mystery.”
Sibbald was jailed in March 2009 for a minimum 12 years after he admitted murdering the 59-year-old mother-oftwo in a drunken row.
Sibbald was serving time at Leyland Prison and died in June.
An investigation into his death was carried out by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
According to his report, Sibbald had previously survived bowel cancer and the new disease was discovered when he received emergency treatment for a heart attack in December 2020.
It stated: “Mr Sibbald had several long-term health conditions including high blood pressure, heart disease and depression.
“He was prescribed appropriate medication for these conditions.
“Mr Sibbald had also been treated for bowel cancer in 2014.
“In December 2020, Mr Sibbald had a heart attack and underwent emergency heart surgery.
“While Mr Sibbald was in hospital, he had a chest X-ray which showed he had a shadow on his lung.
“On 31 December, Mr Sibbald was discharged from hospital. He was told his heart condition would be followed up with the hospital cardiology team.”
On his return to prison, Sibbald was located on the Covid-19 shielding wing and received his two vaccines over the coming months.
On March 25, a month after being taken for a CT scan, he was told he had lung cancer.
He was admitted to hospital with pneumonia a month later, where he remained for around two weeks.
Sibbald told the health workers he did not want chemotherapy and after another bout of illness on June 4 was again hospitalised and his health deteriorated during his stay.
The report added: “On June 12 hospital staff discussed a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Order with Mr Sibbald, who agreed if he stopped breathing he did not want to be resuscitated.
“On 15 June, Mr Sibbald was given a life expectancy of three to six months.
“The following day, the prison started an application for him to be released on compassionate grounds.”
Over the next two weeks, the murderer’s health deteriorated further and he died in hospital on June 22.
The report noted Sibbald was the 13th prisoner to die at Wymott since June 2019. Of the previous deaths, 11 were from natural causes and one was drug related.
The report, compiled by assistant ombudsman Louise Richards, concluded: “The coroner accepted the cause of death provided by the hospital and no post-mortem examination was conducted.
“The hospital recorded Mr Sibbald’s cause of death as a chest infection caused by lung cancer.
“Ischaemic heart disease was listed as a contributing factor.
“The coroner accepted the cause of death provided by the hospital and no post-mortem examination was conducted.”