Bowburn child abuser took his own life in jail - inquest

Rapist Andrew Hadwin and his partner Cheryl Pickles made the children scavenge for scraps, prolonging their physical and emotional abuse over years.

But his victims never got to see him jailed and face justice after he was found dead at HMP Durham on February 2 last year while awaiting sentence, two weeks after a jury found the pair guilty of a string of offences.

Pickles was later jailed on April 28, 2023 for 15 years of child cruelty and one of perverting the course of justice.

Cheryl Pickles and Andrew Hadwin. (Image: FACEBOOK) Hadwin was found guilty of three counts of rape, seven counts of neglect, and one count of perverting the course of justice. They were both found not guilty of sexual activity with a child.

An inquest at Crook Coroners’ Court this week heard Hadwin was “not a well man” and suffered with Type 1 Diabetes. It was told he had previously expressed thoughts of self-harm and refused the vital diabetes drug.

A jury said: “We consider Andrew Hadwin consciously chose on multiple occasions not to take his required medication. We consider that [he] did intend to take his own life.”

He died of diabetic ketoacidosis – a condition which occurs because of a shortage of insulin – a post mortem examination concluded.

HMP Durham. On Tuesday (October 29) the inquest heard he may have survived if a diabetes check of his ketone levels, branded as “pretty much paramount” a diabetes expect, which did not happen on February 1, the day before he died, had been done.

In their conclusion, the jury said: “He was not adequately tested. Such a failure probably contributed to Mr Hadwin’s death.

“[His] own diabetes mismanagement also probably contributed to his death.”

Andrew Hadwin did intend to take his own life, jurors concluded. (Image: FACEBOOK) The jury previously saw bodycam video captured by a prison officer of Hadwin refusing his insulin at about 5.25pm the day before his death, in which he was asked "Do you understand the repercussions of not having it?", and the 39-year-old responds saying he would die.

During the Crown Court trial it was heard how Hadwin and Cheryl Pickles subjected children to prolonged physical and emotional abuse over the course of several years.

An inquest took place at Crook Coroners Court this week.

The pair, formerly of Bowburn, in Durham, would order takeaways and make the children watch them eat them while stood in stress positions for long periods of time.

Their offending came to light in 2018 when one of the children disclosed what had happened and an investigation by Durham Constabulary was launched.

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One of the children was left with life-limiting injuries as a result of the abuse.

Meanwhile, the rape victim, who is now an adult, told Pickles’ sentencing hearing they wept with relief learning that Hadwin had killed himself. They wrote: “I can rest knowing you can never hurt anyone ever again. I am free.”

Cheryl, who was branded ‘sadistic’ by a judge as she was sentenced in April 2023, watched proceedings at the Coroners’ Court via video link from prison, flanked by a chaplain.