Man died in crash three days after prison release

Lee Walker was pronounced dead on the A34 near Oxford

A bail hostel resident died three days after being released from prison when he was hit by a vehicle on a dual carriageway while heavily drunk, a report has concluded.

Lee Walker said he was looking forward to a "fresh start" when he was sent to Clarks House Approved Premises in Oxford, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman found.

However, the 35-year-old was knocked down by a pick-up truck while walking on the nearby A34 on 13 March 2023.

A bag of letters from his deceased partner was found on his hostel bed but it was not clear whether his death was intentional, the ombudsman recorded.

Mr Walker, who was adopted, had a history of childhood trauma and was in prison almost continuously from the age of 23, the report found.

In 2017, he was jailed for more than five years for inflicting grievous bodily harm on his partner, who later died in a separate incident.

Mr Walker told staff at Clarks House he felt "optimistic about his future" and was looking forward to a "fresh start", the report said.

On 13 March, he was handed a letter reminding him to abstain from alcohol as a condition of his release.

However, at 23:15 GMT police received a call from a driver on the A34 saying they thought they had hit a pedestrian.

Mr Walker, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 350mg/dL which can sometimes be fatal, the ombudsman said.

A Probation Service investigation found that staff could have had more "professional curiosity" when dealing with Mr Walker and should have ensured that he read his letter.

Police said no charges were brought against the driver.