Paedophile Martin Smith found dead in prison

A paedophile whose Staffordshire partner is accused of murdering their two children in a Spanish hotel has been found hanged in his prison cell.

Martin Smith, 46, who used hypnotism and violence to groom and sexually abuse a young girl, was jailed for 16 years in March at Liverpool Crown Court.

Today police said they were investigating his death at HMP Manchester, but it was not thought to be suspicious.

Smith, who was discovered on Monday night, was found guilty 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.

His partner Lianne Smith, 44, who lived in Lichfield, is currently being held in Spain accused of killing their children Rebecca, aged five, and Daniel, who was 11 months, in May 2009.

The couple fled from their home in Deykin Road, Lichfield, where they had lived for about three months in late 2007 after the child sex allegations came to light.

Miss Smith had worked for Walsall education provider Serco.

During the week-long trial Miss Smith choked back tears as she gave evidence from Spain in support of her partner of 18 years.

Smith, originally from the North Shields, was convicted of charges spanning nine years from May 1995 to May 2004.

The children were staying at the Hotel Miramar in Lloret de Mar, in Costa Brava when they died.

Miss Smith said she asphyxiated them with a plastic bag, but has denied their murder.

She has claimed she is not criminally responsible because of mental illness.

The Prison Service today said an investigation would be carried out