Paedophile headteacher Derek Slade was bedbound in the lead up to his unexpected death, an inquest heard.

The 66-year-old, who was jailed for 21 years in 2010, died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on March 2.

Norwich Coroner's Court heard yesterday that he died from liver cirrhosis, heart disease, chronic renal failure and complications in connection to his type two diabetes.

Slade – also known as Edward Marsh – was serving his sentence at Norwich Prison for the sexual and physical abuse of pupils at private schools in Wicklewood, in Norfolk, and Great Finborough, in Suffolk.

He suffered from a range of conditions including type two diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol, Gave syndrome and anaemia, the inquest heard.

He was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital 28 times from the time he was sentenced.

On February 16, he was admitted after feeling weak and experiencing reduced mobility for several weeks.

The hearing was told Slade was not controlling his diabetes or co-operating with nurses.

On March 2, one of the prison officers guarding him noticed his skin had started to turn yellow and he was not breathing.

Staff gave Slade CPR, but they were unable to save his life.

Assistant coroner Johanna Thompson ruled that Slade died of natural causes.