By David Huntley,Eliana Nunes

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A child rapist was found dead in his cell after fearing he would be attacked by fellow inmates once his horrific crimes became known. Brian Jordan, 60, took his own life just days after being locked up for seven years and seven months at HMP Durham for raping and indecently assaulting one girl and having unlawful sexual intercourse with another. He was remanded in custody and charged with five offences, including rape and indecent assault, in March 2023. Seven days before his death on July 3, 2024, Jordan found out his conviction had been widely reported – news that left him feeling “distressed” and “scared” he might be attacked by other prisoners, Chronicle Live reports. An independent investigation by the Prisons and Probations Ombudsman (PPO) into Jordan’s death, has concluded that that prison staff could not have foreseen his suicide. Jordan was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court after his conviction in June 2024 and sent back to HMP Durham to serve his sentence. Upon his arrival at HMP Durham, he denied any thoughts of suicide or self-harm and declined the offer of a mental health assessment. Jordan had been placed in a shared cell on the Vulnerable Prisoners (VP) section of F Wing. In the days that followed, staff had no concerns about his risk of suicide and self-harm and he raised no issues with them, the PPO investigation found. But on July 3, he made a phone call to his family from prison. The PPO report stated: “Mr Jordan asked his son to check online for the offence details of his cellmate. His son told him that there was no information about his cellmate online in the local press but that details of his offence and conviction had been reported. Mr Jordan asked his son to read out the article. As his son did so, Mr Jordan became distressed. He repeatedly said he was scared he would be attacked by other prisoners. He said he felt sick. Mr Jordan’s son told him if he felt unsafe he should request a prison move.” It continued: “At 10.43am, an officer unlocked Mr Jordan’s cell and saw him hanging. She immediately called a medical emergency code, entered the cell and cut the ligature. Another officer arrived quickly and they started CPR. Staff and paramedics continued with the resuscitation attempts but were unsuccessful. At 11.58am, paramedics pronounced Mr Jordan’s death.” A post-mortem report revealed that Jordan, of Arthur’s Hill, died from pressure to the neck caused by hanging. Toxicology tests showed that he had used cannabis at some point, but it was deemed unlikely that he was under the influence at the time of his death. The PPO report concluded the emergency response was swift. A jury inquest ruled that Jordan died by suicide.