Notorious drug gang leader dies of cancer

John Dawes was jailed for 24 years in 2005 and was back in prison at the time of his death

A notorious Nottinghamshire drug gang leader died of cancer while serving a new sentence in prison, an inquest heard.

John Dawes, 56, died at Nottingham City Hospital on 5 July, and was an inmate at HMP Nottingham at the time.

Nottingham Coroner's Court heard he had been diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma in 2021.

Assistant coroner Amanda Bewley said his death "was expected and not suspicious".

Born in Nottinghamshire, Dawes was jailed in 2005 for conspiracy to supply amphetamines and heroin, and money laundering, with a judge at his sentencing described him as "ruthless".

He was last recalled to prison in 2023, after his cancer diagnosis was made, and his brother Robert was handed a life sentence earlier this year over a murder in The Netherlands in 2002.

The inquest heard prison officers were on bed duty at the time of his death, which occurred at 03:10 BST.

An official cause of death was given as refractory diffuse large b-cell lymphoma from lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.

Ms Bewley said the death "was as a consequence of the progression of a natural disease", and offered her condolences to his friends and family.

"It's not easy to lose a family member, and they're in my thoughts at this time," she said.