A paedophile from Billingham died in prison from a drug overdose after kidnapping, abusing and imprisoning a 6-year-old girl. 

Joseph Davies abducted the young girl in broad daylight in 2018 before sexually abusing her, telling her: "If you tell anyone, I'll steal you again."

Davies had been seen hanging around and acting suspiciously for two hours before grabbing the girl and taking her to the garden of an unoccupied house.

He was given a ten-year extended sentence for public protection after a judge branded him a danger who showed "little empathy", and denied any sexual motivation for his crimes whilst on trial at Teesside Crown Court. 

But just over three years into his sentence, Davies took an overdose of prescription medication in his cell at HMP Northumberland. 

Staff found Davies unresponsive and not breathing around lunchtime on February 12, 2023. They attempted to resuscitate the prisoner with chest compressions, oxygen, and a defibrillator, and when he showed signs of a pulse, he was taken to hospital. 

He later deteriorated, and died in hospital that evening, around 6pm. 

The pathologist concluded that the cause of Davies’ death was multiple drug toxicity, and an inquest concluded that he died by suicide, from an overdose of prescription medication. 

The clinical reviewer, from the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, concluded that Davies received a high standard of clinical care which was equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community, and there were several areas of good practice. 

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The report also outlines that the inmate had a history of self-harming and was receiving support from a psychologist, speech and language therapist and mental health nurse.

Staff that assessed Davies believed he had a learning disability and traits of autism and worked with him to help him cope in prison.

The reviewer added: "We concluded that staff could not have predicted that Mr Davies was a risk to himself in the days leading up to his death. Staff identified and managed risks effectively and he had regular and meaningful contact with a key worker."