HMP Frankland prisoner found dead ‘slumped on bed’

Paul Ellison was found dead within HMP Frankland’s healthcare facility on December 19.

The 54-year-old was one of five inmates at the prison to be found dead over a period of eight days, including on Christmas.

An inquest into his death was today (February 3) opened in Spennymoor, and heard his cause of death is “unascertained”.

Coroners’ officer Sue Rooney told the hearing: “I understand the circumstances to be that Paul was found slumped on his bed, at the healthcare facility, within HMP Frankland.

“On December 21, 2025, Dr Louise Mulcahy conducted a Post-Mortem Examination at Newcastle RVI Mortuary and gave the cause of death as unascertained.”

The hearing was adjourned and will be mentioned on May 12.

As reported, investigations into the deaths of five inmates are underway, with Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) Adrian Usher saying he will look at any “themes or any correlation among the deaths”.

It is understood they are not directly linked.

Among the men who died were a Latvian man who raped and murdered a teenager days before her 18th birthday, and a man who killed his neighbour in Barnard Castle just three years ago.