Doctor Described as Lucy Letby’s ‘Boyfriend’ Named for First Time After His Death

The doctor once described in court as Lucy Letby’s “boyfriend” can now be publicly identified following his death.

Dr Mark Deakin, 53, a married father of two, had previously been protected by an anonymity order during Letby’s trial. The restrictions have now been lifted, allowing his name to be reported.

Deakin died in July after being dismissed from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, where he had worked as a specialist diabetes consultant. He had faced disciplinary proceedings over his contact with Letby and the sharing of confidential information concerning a premature baby she was later convicted of trying to murder.

His Connection to Lucy Letby

Deakin worked with Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital during the period covered by her convictions.

The pair exchanged 1,355 Facebook messages over a three-month period between June and September 2016. Their conversations included discussions about babies who had collapsed while they were on duty together, as well as personal conversations that sometimes took place late at night.

They also met outside work for walks and meals and took day trips to London.

During Letby’s trial, prosecutor Nick Johnson KC suggested that Deakin was her “boyfriend” and argued that she had become infatuated with him.

Letby rejected that characterization. She said they were simply “best friends” and denied that they had been involved in a romantic relationship.

The issue attracted particular attention during the trial when Letby became visibly distressed as Deakin entered the courtroom to give evidence for the prosecution.

Messages About Baby N

Much of the later scrutiny surrounding Deakin centred on his communications with Letby about Baby N, a premature boy with haemophilia.

Letby was subsequently convicted of attempting to murder the infant in June 2016, the day after he was born.

The messages between Letby and Deakin contained details about Baby N’s medical condition and care, information that was found to have breached patient confidentiality.

In one exchange, Letby asked Deakin about the baby’s condition and whether she had done anything wrong in relation to his care.

Deakin responded reassuringly, telling her that he was sure the baby had received the best possible care and that she had done everything she could for him.

When questioned about that exchange during the Thirlwall Inquiry, Deakin accepted that, in hindsight, he had shared too much.

He said that doctors could normally provide general updates about a patient’s condition without identifying the patient or revealing extensive clinical information, but acknowledged that the information he provided went further than it should have.

Baby N’s mother later accused Deakin of blatantly breaching her son’s confidentiality and said she had made a formal complaint to Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

He Also Helped Arrange Visits for Letby

The inquiry heard that Deakin later helped arrange up to six observational visits for Letby at Alder Hey, where he was working as a locum.

The visits took place after Letby had been removed from frontline nursing duties at the Countess of Chester amid concerns surrounding the deaths of babies in her care.

According to the original account, Letby was allowed to accompany Deakin on ward rounds and clinics. She also attended a hospital roadshow concerning insulin and shadowed a nurse in paediatric intensive care.

Deakin had previously emailed Alder Hey bosses in December 2016, explaining that Letby was interested in the care of postoperative premature babies and wanted to observe sessions in an operating theatre as part of her personal development while studying for a master’s degree.

He said he believed the arrangements had been approved on the understanding that Letby would remain supervised and have no direct contact with patients.

However, an investigation later concluded that Deakin had a very close relationship with Letby and was likely aware that concerns had been raised about her connection to the rise in baby deaths.

The inquiry found that arranging her visits despite those circumstances could potentially have placed patient safety at risk.

Deakin Said Letby Had Misled Him

Giving evidence to the Thirlwall Inquiry in October 2024, Deakin said Letby had “misled and maybe manipulated” him into providing information about babies she had attacked.

He also acknowledged that he had forwarded Letby an email from Dr Stephen Brearey, the neonatal lead at the Countess of Chester Hospital, concerning the deaths of two triplets, Child O and Child P.

Letby was later convicted of murdering both children.

Deakin told the inquiry that he had forwarded the email because he was worried about the two babies and believed Letby was upset. He said he had been trying to give her some understanding of what was happening.

With hindsight, however, he accepted that sending the email had been an error.

He told the inquiry that he had been trying to support Letby at the time but had come to regard his actions as a serious mistake, adding that he had spent years reflecting on what had happened.

A Disciplinary Investigation at Alder Hey

Alder Hey informed Deakin in January 2024 that it had launched a formal investigation into his conduct, five months after Letby was convicted.

The investigation examined his relationship with Letby, his handling of confidential patient information and the arrangements that enabled her to visit the hospital.

Deakin attended a three-day disciplinary hearing in early June 2026. He accepted that he had breached Baby N’s confidentiality but disputed the suggestion that he knew Letby was under suspicion when he organized her visits to Alder Hey.

The disciplinary panel rejected his account.

On June 23, he was dismissed for gross misconduct.

The following day, relatives are understood to have reported him missing. He was subsequently found collapsed in his car at a retail park around 20 miles from his home in Cheshire, reportedly in an apparent diabetic coma.

He was taken to intensive care but never regained consciousness and died on July 3 at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside, nine days after his dismissal.

His death has been referred to the Cheshire Coroner, which has confirmed that preliminary inquiries have begun.

His Identity Was Previously Protected

Deakin had been granted anonymity during Letby’s criminal proceedings. That protection was intended to remain in place, but the court order was lifted following his death.

The decision means his identity can now be reported publicly.

Deakin’s dismissal would also have had potential consequences for his medical career. Hospital bosses would have been expected to notify the General Medical Council, the regulatory body for doctors, potentially putting his professional registration and ability to continue working at risk.

Letby Remains in Prison

Letby, who was formerly based in Hereford, was convicted at Manchester Crown Court in August 2023 following what was described as the longest-running murder trial in British history.

She was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others, including one infant whom she attacked twice, at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.

She received 15 whole-life terms and has consistently maintained that she did not kill or harm any babies in her care.

Letby has twice been denied permission to appeal her convictions. She has since submitted documents to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, in an effort to secure a further review of her case.

The identification of Dr Mark Deakin adds another chapter to the scrutiny surrounding his professional relationship with Letby, the confidential information shared between them and the decisions that allowed her to maintain contact with him after she had been removed from frontline nursing duties.