A man convicted of child rape was discovered deceased in his prison cell, having taken his own life out of fear of potential harm from fellow inmates upon learning about his crimes. Brian Jordan, aged 60, ended his life shortly after starting a 7-year, 7-month sentence at HMP Durham for various offenses, including rape and indecent assault. His suicide occurred after he became distressed upon realizing that news of his conviction had spread, raising concerns about potential attacks from other prisoners.

An investigation by the Prisons and Probations Ombudsman (PPO) determined that prison staff could not have predicted Jordan’s suicide. Despite being placed in a shared cell in a section designated for vulnerable prisoners, there were no initial concerns about his well-being. However, on the day of his death, Jordan expressed distress to his family over fears of being targeted by other inmates, leading to his tragic decision.

The PPO report detailed the events leading up to Jordan’s suicide, indicating that he had a phone conversation with his son regarding the publicity of his crimes, which left him feeling anxious and unwell. Subsequently, he was found hanging in his cell by a prison officer, prompting immediate emergency response efforts. Despite attempts at resuscitation, Jordan could not be saved, and was pronounced dead by paramedics.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that Jordan’s cause of death was hanging-induced pressure to the neck. Toxicology tests revealed the presence of cannabis in his system, but it was unlikely to have influenced his actions at the time of his suicide. The PPO report praised the swift emergency response, and a subsequent jury inquest officially ruled Jordan’s death as a suicide.