A CORONER has ordered preliminary investigations into the deaths of four patients of an Altrincham breast surgeon.

Ian Paterson was jailed for 17 offences of wounding with intent and three charges of unlawful wounding in 2017.

The jail sentence for his actions, at the Spire Parkway and Spire Little Aston hospitals in the West Midlands, was later raised from 17 to 20 years.

Louise Hunt, the senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, has now confirmed enquiries are taking place into four deaths.

She said that "there is evidence to have reason to suspect that some of those deaths may be unnatural".