Woman who went on run after parlour boss attack dead in prison

TRAGEDY IS SECOND DEATH AT PRISON THIS YEAR AFTER WOMAN, 41, DIED IN CUSTODY IN FEBRUARY

A WOMAN who attacked a massage parlour boss with a rubber mallet before going on the run with her partner has died in prison.

An independent investigation is set to be launched into the death of Imogen Mellor, 29, at HMP Styal – a women-only prison in Cheshire.

The tragedy is the second death at the prison, near Wilmslow, this year.

Cheshire Police said emergency services were called to the prison on Monday, June 4.

Ms Mellor, who was jailed for 21 months for theft and unlawful wounding in January, was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital where she later died, police said.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Styal prisoner Imogen Mellor, 29, died in hospital on June 4, 2018.

“As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO).

“Our sincere condolences are with Ms Mellor’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

The PPO carries out independent investigations into all deaths and complaints in custody.

Police said the death wasn’t being treated as suspicious and a file was due to be prepared for a coroner ahead of an inquest. Warrington Coroners’ Court said no date for an inquest opening had been fixed as yet.

No further details about the circumstances surrounding Ms Mellor’s death have been released.

Ms Mellor, from Lancashire, pleaded guilty to the charges she faced and was jailed at Preston Crown Court.

The court heard Ms Mellor had been living and working at the massage parlour in Blackpool in July last year but was told to leave by the victim after he found out she had been secretly allowing her partner, Zoe Hickey, to stay.

A judge said there was a confrontation before he was attacked and the couple fled, taking with them their pet hamster along with cash from his wallet.

The court heard they remained at large in the face of a police investigation for ten days before they were caught and arrested.

Zoe Hickey was jailed for 12 months after admitting theft.

In a statement, Cheshire Police said: “At 4.50pm on Monday, June 4, police were called to reports of an attempted suicide at HMP Styal in Wilmslow. Officers attended and a 29-year-old woman was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, where she died. There are no suspicious circumstances and a file has been prepared for the coroner.”

In February, Nicola Birchall, 41, died while in custody at the prison. Investigations are continuing into her death, but it’s not being treated as suspicious.

HMP Styal, the only female prison in the region, has an operational capacity of 486 inmates. A former orphanage, the site first opened as a women’s prison in 1962 when female prisoners from Strangeways in Manchester were transferred in.