Man accused in kidnap plot killed himself in prison

A man accused of being involved in kidnapping a child took his own life in prison, an inquest jury has decided.

Robert Frith, 65, was found dead in his cell at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, on 14 November 2020, five days after he had been remanded in custody by magistrates in Llandudno.

The father-of-two, from Ty'n y Parc, Holyhead, Anglesey, was due to appear at Caernarfon Crown Court on 7 December 2020 in connection with a gang kidnap of a child they feared was the victim of satanic abuse.

Prison Officer John O'Sullivan found Mr Frith in his cell lying under a duvet having clearly been dead for some time, the coroner's court in Ruthin, Denbighshire, heard.

At the hearing on Thursday, prison officers said Frith, a former psychiatric nurse, had said he did not intend to self-harm and so was considered only a "standard risk".

"Roll checks" were carried out at regular intervals during his time in the single cell, but they were to ensure that prisoners were present, not to check on their welfare.

Mr Frith's brother Peter told the hearing that his brother was "intelligent, sweet, gentle and caring" but was depressed about the death of their mother and another brother having cancer.

Prison Officer John O'Sullivan found Mr Frith when he entered his cell on the morning of 14 November.

Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers said rigor mortis had set in, indicating Mr Frith had been dead for three to six hours and gave the cause of death as suffocation.

The jury of six men and five women returned a conclusion of suicide on Thursday.

In September, 2021, six people were jailed Caernarfon Crown Court for a total of 63 years for their roles in the child kidnap plot. 

They claimed that the child, who was under 10, was at risk of Satanic abuse.