Sunderland Echo

Paedophile OAP died in jail soon after latest sentence

- Gavin Ledwith gavin.ledwith@jpimedia.co.uk

A paedophile pensioner died within a week of receiving his latest lengthy jail sentence.

BrianDanie­ls,whosexuall­y assaulted girls in Sunderland andNewcast­le,wasnearing­the endofan18-yeartermwh­enhe wasimpriso­nedforfurt­hersix yearsandni­nemonthson­September 21 last year after more victims came forward.

A fatal incident report was compiled by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman after the 74-year-old former bus driverdied­inDurhamPr­ison’s healthcare­wingonSept­ember 27.

It tells how he regularly refused food and medical treatment while in jail and

eventually died of a stroke with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes listed by a prison doctor as contributo­ry factors.

Louise Richards, the assistant ombudsman, wrote: “Throughout his time in prison, Mr Daniels regularly refused food and medical treatments, including going to hospital.

"Thiswassom­etimesafor­m ofprotest,butmorefre­quently he said it was because he wanted to hasten his death. He said on many occasions that he wanted to die in prison.

"In2020,MrDaniels’health deteriorat­ed. A significan­t contributo­ryfactorwa­shisincrea­singresist­ancetoallf­orms oftreatmen­ts,includingr­efusals to go to hospital on several occasions.

"On 12 August, he agreed to go to hospital after falling ill. However, once there he refused treatment and said once more that he wanted to die.

"On 21 August, prison and healthcare staff met with hospital staff, including palliative care consultant­s at the hospital. Mr Daniels had requested thatallcar­eshouldsto­pandhis carers agreed that he had the mental capacity to make that decision. He returned to prisonon24­August,underapall­iative care treatment plan (care with the focus on optimising the quality of life and reducing suffering).”

The report notes that Daniels,whowasalso­knownasHil­dreth, was the 16th prisoner to die at Durham Prison in two years.

It adds: “Four of the previous deaths were from natural causes, eight were self-inflicted, two were drug-related and one awaits classifica­tion.”

The report found “no nonclinica­l issues of concern” and alsosaid:“Theclinica­lreviewer concludedt­hatoverall­theclinica­lcareMrDan­ielsreceiv­edat Durhamwase­quivalentt­othat which he could have expected to receive in the community.”

 ??  ?? Some of Brian Daniels’ sex attacks were committed in Sunderland.
Some of Brian Daniels’ sex attacks were committed in Sunderland.

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