Knifeman dies after falling ill in jail
A prisoner who sliced open a man’s throat in a Sunderland knife attack has died after being taken to hospital along with four other ill inmates.
Daniel Sayers, 36, was among five HMP Durham prisoners who were taken to hospital on Friday, June 12, after falling ill.
Six ambulances and paramedic crews were called to Durham Prison at Old Elvet, at 5.38pm, following reports that a number of people at the prison had become unwell.
But while the four other prisoners who attended hospital have since returned to prison, Sayers condition did not improve and he died in hospital on Tuesday, June 16.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed of the 36-yearold’s death.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Durham prisoner, Daniel Sayers, died in hospital on June 16 and our thoughts are with his family and friends. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed.”
Sayers was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court of committing grievous bodily harm and possessing of an offensive weapon.
A court heard that Sayers had left a man fighting for his life following a knife attack at a house in Tel El Kebir Road, Hendon, Sunderland, in August 2018.
A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service said on Friday: "We were called at 5.38pm to reports of persons unwell at Durham Prison at Old Elvet. We had nine resources on scene, they included six ambulances, an officer, and a specialist paramedic.
“The Hazardous Area Response Team attended, but were stood down.”
HMP Durham is one of five prisons in County Durham and is used as the remand prison for the North East region and Cumbria.
Originally built in 1810 the jail is home to just under 1,000 prisoners.
It has featured on a channel four documentary series on prison life in 2018.
Ombudsman figures revealed HMP Durham had one of the worst records in the country for the number of deaths in custody.
Ten fatal incidents investigations were launched by the ombudsman following deaths of inmates at HMP Durham between April 2018 and April 2019.