Sex offences accused found hanged in cell

Andrew James Stanley (34), of Barberwood Road, Blackburn, was sent to Doncaster Prison after magistrates in Rotherham charged him with three counts of inciting sexual activity with a girl under 13 and one charge of sexual activity with a girl under 13 at a hearing on April 21.

Less than 24 hours after Stanley’s appearance at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court—at 10.21am the following day—guards at Doncaster Prison found his lifeless body hanging in a cell.

There is no suspicion of any third party involvement in Stanley’s death.

A post mortem examination of Stanley’s body has already been carried out and an inquest was expected to be opened this week.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Doncaster prisoner Andrew Stanley was found hanging in his cell at 10.21am on Friday, April 22. Staff attempted CPR and paramedics attended but he was pronounced dead at 11am.

“As with all deaths in custody the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation.”

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service revealed that Stanley had been charged following his arrest a fortnight ago.

She added: “His alleged offences took place between the start of 2011 and April 19.”