AN inquest has opened into the death of a convicted paedophile serving a jail sentence at HMP Risley.

Rodney Smallman, 81, collapsed at the prison and was taken to Warrington Hospital on March 11, this year, Warrington Coroners Court heard today, Wednesday.

Jacqueline Devonish, senior coroner for Cheshire, opened and adjourned the inquest during a two-minute hearing.

The court heard that the prisoner suffered ‘sensation changes in his limbs and his condition deteriorated’.

He died on March 11, this year.

The paedophile was jailed for 12-and-and-half years at Oxford Crown Court in 2015, after being found guilty of molesting five former pupils of a home in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

The crimes were committed against children as young as 10 during the 1970s and 1980s, whilst Smallman was deputy head of a boys’ home which is now closed.

The paedophile subjected boys across the country to sadistic abuse when he was supposed to be looking after them.

The inquest was adjourned until September 27, this year.