In jail, a convicted paedophile teacher chokes to death while eating breakfast.

An inquest heard that a jailed paedophile tutor who targeted young boys choked to death on his prison meal.

 

John McKno, 74, was sentenced to prison in 2016 for sexually assaulting five students at boarding schools in Suffolk, Devon, and Worcestershire in the 1970s and 1980s.

 

He died on September 29 at Norwich Prison from “cardiac arrest” after choking.

 

An inquest jury found that McKno, who had a variety of health problems, died as a result of a misadventure.

 

 

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Norwich prisoner John McKno died in prison on 29th September 2019.

 

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

 

Mr. McKno worked at Beam College in Great Torrington in Devon, St Michael’s College in Tenbury Wells and Kesgrave Hall School near Ipswich.

 

Four of McKno’s victims were boys under 16, and one was a boy under 14.

 

A former pupil at Kesgrave Hall recalled how he slept with “one eye open”.

 

The victim, now 52, said his childhood was “ruined” by the sick teacher during his trial.

 

He said: “In the beginning McKno came across as a very nice teacher, a fair teacher and I did well in maths.

 

“I can’t go into too much detail but I was abused, which ruined my childhood and my trust of teachers, although it only happened once.

 

“I was scared, kept myself to myself and shut my mouth.”