Durham man found dead in prison cell awaiting sentence for child neglect, inquest heard – The Northern Echo

Andrew Hadwin, 39, was due to be jailed for his crimes on April 28 last year but was found unresponsive in the toilet of his cell at HMP Durham on February 2, two weeks after he was taken into custody, when a Crown Court jury found he and partner Cheryl Pickles are guilty of a series of crimes.

An inquest at Crook Coroners’ Court today (Monday, October 28) heard that at 11.10am on the morning of his death, a prison officer opened his cell door when his cellmate said Hadwin had been in the toilet for around 30 minutes .

The jail officer found him unresponsive.

Cheryl Pickles and Andrew Hadwin. (Image: FACEBOOK)

An ambulance was called and paramedics attended but he was pronounced dead just after midday at 12.01am.

The police arrived and ruled out suspicious circumstances.

An autopsy by Dr Hoggard recorded the medical cause of death as diabetic ketoacidosis, the court heard, a condition which occurs due to a lack of insulin.

Hadwin was remanded in custody at HMP Durham awaiting sentencing.

Jurors were told he had previously suggested he would stop taking his insulin as a form of self-harm. Reviewing the case, Senior Assistant Coroner Crispin Oliver said: “While on his way to prison as a detainee, he told staff at GeoAmey (the company that provides prison transport) that he was at risk of suicide or self-harm and stated that he wouldn’t take his insulin.

The inquest, due to last seven days, will examine whether his death was self-inflicted and whether it could have been prevented.

An inquest was held before an 11-member jury at Crook Coroners’ Court.

Recommended reading:

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get five months’ access for just £5 or get 40% off an annual subscription with our latest offer. Click here.

Hadwin had been held in the vulnerable prisoner unit at HMP Durham since being detained on January 17 and was under round-the-clock surveillance, the jury was told.

He suffered from type 1 diabetes, used a cane and a wheelchair for long distances and was generally not a “healthy person”, the court was told, and spent two stays at University Hospital North Durham between January 18 and 23 and again on 25 January 2023 while in custody.

His partner Cheryl Pickles watched the proceedings at the Coroner’s Court via video link from prison, flanked by a priest.

The investigation continues.