A former soldier whose sickening sexual offences left his young victim traumatised died of cancer in prison, a new report has detailed.  

Malcolm Burwood, 84, was jailed in 2019 for historical sexual abuse of a young boy. 

As well as molesting the “very vulnerable” boy - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - he made him perform sex acts.

The abuse only came to light in 2015 - half a century later. 

Burwood, from Houghton, had pled not guilty to denied two charges of indecent assault, one of indecency with a child and another serious sexual offence, but was found guilty by a jury and sent to HMP Holme House, in Stockton. 

On April 7, he died from prostate cancer at Holme House. 

At 2019 his trial, the court heard Burwood had threatened his young victim to make sure he "kept quiet" about the abuse he was suffering.

The victim read a moving statement at the sentencing hearing. 

He said: "I clearly remember being a very frightened child. This has haunted me, it has blighted my life."

The victim said he has struggled with relationships throughout his life and has even attempted suicide.

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A report from the Prison and Probation Ombudsman said: "The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Burwood received was of a good standard and equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community.

"The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Burwood’s care. 8. We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern. We make no recommendations."

At an inquest into his death, a coroner concluded that Burwood died of natural causes.