Convicted paedophile found dead in prison

London: A convicted paedophile whose partner is accused of murdering their two children in a Spanish hotel has been found hanging in his prison cell.

Former TV psychic Martin Smith, 46, originally from North Shields, was jailed for 16 years in March 2011 for raping a girl under the age of 16 in Cumbria.

His partner Lianne Smith is in custody in Spain, accused of murdering the couple's two young children in the resort of Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava in 2010.

Greater Manchester police said Martin Smith's death was not thought to be suspicious. A spokesman said his body was found in his cell on Monday evening. 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 March last year, he was jailed for 16 years at Liverpool court after being convicted of 11 charges of rape, attempted rape, indecency with a child and indecent assault, spanning nine years, following a trial in Manchester in December 2010.

Smith 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.

— Guardian News & Media Ltd