Steven Martin’s cause of death not yet known – inquest

Steven Martin was jailed for life in 2010 for his role in the murder of “loving” Andrew Gardner, 35, in March 2009. 

He tortured Mr Gardner weeks before his eventual death alongside two others; Clare Nichols, Mr Gardner’s girlfriend and the mother of his fourth child, and her brother Simon Nichols.

The 61-year-old had served 16 years behind bars when he died at the County Durham prison – dubbed Monster Mansion – on May 6. 

An inquest opened into his death at Crook Coroners’ Court on Wednesday (June 3) heard how Martin, who was born in Portsmouth, died in the healthcare unit of the prison. 

A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Sam Hoggard at the Royal Victoria Infirmary mortuary in Newcastle gave the cause of death as “unascertained, pending histology and toxicology”.

His body was identified by a prison officer. Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield adjourned the inquest for a mention hearing on September 29.

Martin was found guilty of the murder of Mr Gardner in 2010 alongside Clare, who was jailed for 32 years, and Simon, who was told he will serve at least 25 years.

ANDREW GARDNER: Was tortured and killed

Martin, who was living in Jarrow, South Tyneside, and has one of the lowest IQs in the country at 59, was sentenced separately to the other two after undergoing psychiatric tests. 

The torture – which was described as “callous” – took place weeks after Martin was invited to move into the family home by Clare Nicholls.

Martin poured boiling water over Mr Gardner’s feet, held him against a hot radiator, whipped him with knotted tea towels and had sex with Clare in front of him.

Mr Gardner, who had learning difficulties, was also starved and suffered more than 150 wounds, including 21 rib fractures, bleeding on the brain and blood poisoning.

He had been beaten, slashed, whipped, scalded, and branded with a cigarette lighter in the weeks before his death.

During the trial, the court heard how he suffered agonising broken ribs from being kneed and stamped on, and died in excruciating pain, probably unable to leave the house they all shared.

His battered and bruised body was found on March 13 after Simon Nicholls called paramedics to the terraced property in Arthur Street, Chilton.

His attackers concocted a story about Mr Gardner going for a walk and returning to say he had been beaten up by a gang.

The paramedics were told that Mr Gardner removed his clothes and collapsed 30 minutes before the 999 call was made, and that the occupants had tried to revive him.

However, it soon became evident that Mr Gardner had been dead for some time.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Steven Martin died on May 6, 2026. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”