Ex-prisoner from Farnworth dies after release on licence

Daniel Daniels, 28, had been released on licence from HMP Berwyn in Wrexham part way through a three-year sentence he was given at Bolton Crown Court in May 2024.

According to the Prisons and Probation Service Ombudsman he died on Saturday January 10 this year.

Daniels had been jailed after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, obstructing the police, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and failure to stop when ordered by police.

He also confessed to failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Daniel Daniels was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss)

During the sentencing hearing back in May 2024 Tanya Elahi, defending, said: “Upon his release from prison he will be motivated to change his ways while he is still young.”

Ms Elahi told the court Daniels was “deeply ashamed and remorseful” and that start the police chase that led to his driving offences was a “stupid moment”.

Recorder Alexandra Simmonds had taken Daniels’s remorse and guilty plea into account but reminded him he had driven through a “populated area, with pedestrians and children”.

Daniels, formerly of Crummock Grove, Farnworth, was on licence at the time and at his last sentencing the court heard he had seven previous convictions for 17 offences.

In February 2022 he had been jailed for 19 months after admitting to assault, affray and possessing a knife after an assault on his ex-partner.

Explaining how it carries out investigations, a statement on the ombudsman’s website said: “After we have been told about a death in custody, we will put a named investigator in charge of the investigation.

“They will find out as much as possible about what happened to the person before their death.

“This includes looking at all the relevant records and policies, together with interviews with relevant staff and prisoners or residents if required. 

“NHS England will also commission an independent clinical review of the healthcare given to the person before their death.

“At the end of the investigation we’ll share what we have found with the family and related organisations.”

The Prison and Probation Service’s investigation is currently ongoing.