Jailed paedophile TV psychic is discovered hanged in prison cell

Former TV psychic Martin Smith, 46, was found dead on Monday evening at HMP Manchester, formerly Strangeways Prison.

According to reports he was found after being locked up for staff to take their evening meals.

When cells were reopened for the prisoners to be given time out in the evening Smith was found hanging.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “Prisoner Martin Smith was found hanging by staff at HMP Manchester at approximately 6.30pm on Monday, January 23, 2012.

“Staff intervened but he was pronounced dead at the prison at approximately 7pm.

“As with all deaths in custody, the independent prisons and probation ombudsman will undertake an investigation.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “Police inquiries into the death are ongoing, although it is not believed thatthere are any suspicious circumstances.”

Smith used hypnotism and violence to groom and sexually abuse a young girl.

Smith, who is originally from North Shields, had regular access to the victim and abused her for almost a decade from when she was seven.

He would attempt to hypnotise, hit and bully the victim to ensure she complied, the jury was told.

Last March he was jailed for 16 years at Liverpool Crown Court after being convicted of 11 specimen charges of rape, attempted rape, indecency with a child and indecent assault, spanning nine years from May 1995 to May 2004, following a trial in December 2010.

During his trial Smith’s barrister said that he had been finding his time in prison very difficult. When he was sentenced Mr Justice Stephen Irwin told him that he had “trapped and overwhelmed” his victim with repeated attacks.

“You had so domineered her that she was crushed by you,” said Mr Justice Irwin.

“Despite all of the evidence, you continued to deny what took place.” The judge added: “In my view, you re-write the world to suit yourself.” Mr Justice Irwin said that Smith represented “a high risk of serious harm” to any girls who might find themselves under his influence in the future.

After the trial Linda Vance, District Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Cumbria, praised Smith’s victim for reporting the attacks to police.

In December 2007 the Smiths – who shared a surname but were not married – left the UK for Spain with Rebecca. Daniel was subsequently born in Spain.

Smith, who appeared on television as a medium five years ago on the Living channel’s Most Haunted programme, was extradited to the UK from Spain in spring 2010.

After his return, Rebecca and Daniel were found dead at the Hotel Miramar in the resort of Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava on May 18, last year.

Their mother Lianne Smith, 43, faces two counts of murder.

She has admitted smothering them but is understood to be preparing to deny murder.

She claims she was not criminally responsible for the youngsters’ deaths, due to mental illness, court papers have revealed.

At her initial hearing in May 2010 it was reported that Ms Smith tried to kill herself using the same method with which she suffocated her children, and left a suicide note.

In her prison cell she was put on 24-hour suicide watch after authorities feared further attempts to take her own life

She is being held in a prison in Girona and will face two counts of murder after a judge ruled out admitting her to a psychiatric unit.

As Smith waited to go before the judge, on May 18 2010, the children were found lifeless on the bed of the hotel.

At the time of the deaths the defendant was in custody in England awaiting trial.

No date has been set yet for the double murder trial in Spain, said a spokeswoman for the Catalonia judiciary.