An 84-year-old prisoner has become the first inmate in the the UK to die after contracting coronavirus.

The man was an inmate at HMP Littlehey, a category C male sex offenders’ prison in Cambridgeshire.

He died in hospital on Sunday.

He reportedly had underlying health issues.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “An 84-year-old prisoner at HMP Littlehey died in hospital on March 22.

“Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

“As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”

Across the UK, 19 inmates had tested positive for Covid-19 in 10 jails and four prison staff had tested positive for the disease in four jails, as of Wednesday.

Three prisoner escort and custody services staff have also tested positive for the virus.

The Prison Service has said robust contingency plans have been put in place at its facilities in consultation with Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care.

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It said prisons are well prepared to take immediate action wherever cases or suspected cases of Covid-19 are identified, including the isolation of individuals where necessary.

Over 9,500 people are known to have contracted the coronavirus in the UK, according to the latest figures, though the true number is estimated to be far higher. As of Thursday morning 465 deaths have been recorded.