Prisoner, 32, is found dead in Strangeways
A PRISONER has been found dead in Strangeways.
Ben Kelbie, 32, from Oldham, died on Thursday at the prison in Manchester.
He was awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, harassment and disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress in October last year.
He was due to be sentenced on December 19 at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, but his case was adjourned until January 26.
Mr Kelbie, of Canal Street, Chadderton, was remanded at HMP Manchester, which houses 1,300 inmates, until sentencing. A spokesman for The Ministry of Justice said: “HMP Manchester prisoner Ben Kelbie died in custody on Thursday, 4 January, 2018.
“As with all deaths in custody there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”
A number of tributes have been paid to Mr Kelbie on social media. David Joyce said in a Facebook post: “Can’t believe what just been told! Shock never thought I’d hear this Ben Kelbie very good friend was found dead in his cell R.I.P. my heart goes out to his family a nice fella.”
Elizabeth Sharples posted: “Rest in peace Ben Kelbie your going to be sadly missed my heart goes out to your family and friends xxxx.”
Jamie Chapman said: “R.i.p Ben Kelbie very sad news.”
Mr Kelbie is the first person to die in custody in the country this year. In the last 12 months a number of inmates have died in the region’s prisons. In February 2017, Tomasz Nowasad, 28, was found dead in a cell on A wing at HMP Manchester while awaiting sentence for GBH with intent on a man in Crumpsall. Days earlier, a 51-year-old inmate collapsed and died at Forest Bank prison.
The following month, Anthony Hill, 35, died at HMP Hindley, in Wigan. Daniel Haynes, from Radcliffe, 28, died at HMP Risley in Warrington while serving a sevenand-a-half year sentence for robbery. Five months later James Thomas, 38, collapsed at the same jail before dying days later in hospital.