An inquest has opened into the death of a convicted paedophile who was found guilty of molesting five former pupils at an Oxfordshire home.

Rodney Smallman, 81, 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.

He has since moved to Warrington and died on March 11, this year.

READ MORE: Jail for Oxford paedophile called the monster under the bed by victim

An inquest held at Warrington Coroners Court today (Wednesday, April 5) heard Smallman collapsed in prison and was taken to Warrington Hospital where he died.

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

Oxford Mail:

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

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.

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