DEREK THOMAS FROM HUDDERSFIELD FOUND DEAD IN DURHAM JAIL CELL

In a tragic development, Derek Thomas, a sex offender originally from Huddersfield, was discovered deceased within his cell at Durham Prison. The incident occurred last Thursday, and the Prison Service has confirmed his death, prompting an official inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the event.

Thomas, aged 49 and formerly residing on Bayfield Close, had been incarcerated since July following a conviction related to a sexual assault that took place in the North East during the 1990s. The assault involved a schoolgirl during a visit to Boldon, South Tyneside. Despite his denial of the charges—two counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency with a child—he was found guilty by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court. Judge John Milford QC sentenced him to 21 months in prison.

The court proceedings revealed that Thomas’s not guilty pleas necessitated the victim to testify in court, a process that was evidently distressing for her. The judge remarked on the emotional toll, stating, “You did not admit the offence, you denied it at trial, with the result she had to give evidence, which clearly she found a distressing experience. She was overcome with emotion when she finally left the witness box.”

At the time of the assault, records indicated that Thomas had a history of frequent trouble with law enforcement. He had previously served a decade-long sentence for arson and accumulated a total of 46 convictions, primarily for dishonesty-related offenses. However, after this period, he appeared to have turned his life around, with no convictions recorded since 1998. Despite this, his past actions had a lasting impact, and he was held accountable for his crimes.

The Prison Service spokesperson stated, “HMP Durham prisoner Derek Thomas was found unresponsive in his cell around 2.40 pm on Thursday August 28 and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.” The spokesperson also emphasized that, as is standard procedure, the Independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his death, ensuring transparency and accountability in the process.