CONVICTED triple murderer John Allen protested his innocence until his death in custody, an inquest heard.

The 81-year-old, who was serving a life sentence for killing his wife and two young children, told prison officers he didn’t want to die in jail, Dorset Coroner Sheriff Payne was told.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance and died hours later, leaving unanswered questions about what happened to wife Patricia and children Jonathan, seven, and five-year-old Victoria.

Allen was jailed for life in 2002, more than 25 years after the trio disappeared. There has been no news of them since 1975 and their bodies have never been found.

The Bournemouth inquest heard Allen was detained in Guys Marsh prison in Shaftesbury and had complex health problems including angina, kidney failure, heart failure and diabetes.He had been given two years to live in 2011 but survived until August 8 last year when he died of heart failure in Yeovil Hospital..

The inquest was told Allen had become immobile and that his health had deteriorated over a number of months. He used a zimmer frame and a wheelchair. Fellow inmate Steve Collins took on the role of his informal carer, helping him with his laundry, personal care and feeding.

Allen, formerly of South Western Crescent in Poole, was convicted and jailed for life in December 2002, 27 years after Patricia, 39, Jonathan and Victoria vanished from the family home in Salcombe, Devon. The court heard Allen did not report them missing and that nothing has been heard from them since 1975.

Allen was brought up in Bournemouth, attended Bournemouth School, and lived in The Avenue, Moordown, with his parents, Kitty and Jack. He spun a web of deceit over many years and once faked his own death.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo in Exeter prison in 2003, Allen strongly denied the murders and said: “Every aspect of this case stinks. I had faith in the justice system and that nobody could find me guilty.”

He said Pat and the children had left him and added: “I expected to get a card from the children at Christmas. When nothing came I made my own inquiries, including hiring a private detective. I couldn’t find them. “I still think about the children, particularly on occasions such as birthdays and Christmas.”

The coroner recorded a verdict that Allen died of natural causes.