Man convicted of child rape found dead in prison after molesting, starving children with partner

39-year-old Andrew Hadwin of County Durham in the United Kingdom, who was "convicted of raping a child" according to the BBC, was found dead in his HMP Durham prison cell on Thursday.

As The Daily Mail reports, Hadwin was convicted of three counts of rape, child abuse, and perverting the course of justice, as he and his partner Cheryl Pickles "tormented children over several years - starving them, feeding them soap and pushing them into boiling hot showers and baths."

The Department of Justice confirmed Hadwin's death to the Daily Mail and said, "HMP Durham prisoner Andrew Hadwin died on 2 February. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate."

The Durham Constabulary launched an investigation into Hadwin and Pickles in 2018 after one of their children told an adult about the abuse. The inquiry lasted four years with over 150 witnesses testifying to what Hadwin and Pickles did to their children.

According to authorities, the pair would hold their kids' heads under water, including in boiling hot baths, and would not feed them for prolonged periods of time. They would lock the kids in cupboards and dangled one child over a bridge as traffic sped by underneath.

To cover up for their crimes, the pair would write to the police under the guise of the children apologizing for coming to authorities to report their abuse.

Hadwin died as he awaited sentencing scheduled for April 28.

He and Pickles were charged with perverting the course of justice for falsifying the letters from their children. They were also charged with several counts of sexual activity with a child and child neglect and had a trial by jury at Teesside Crown Court.

"Hadwin was also charged with three counts of rape in relation to historic abuse of another child which happened when she was a little girl," reports the Daily Mail.

Hadwin was found guilty on January 18 of "three counts of rape, seven counts of neglect" and the perverting the course of justice charge.

Hadwin and Pickles were both found guilty of a "a prolonged campaign of child abuse."

Hadwin was found not guilty on an additional sexual activity with a child charge.

Pickles was found guilty of "five counts of child cruelty" and also found guilty for falsifying the kids' letters.

Hadwin had several social media accounts and often posted picture portraying the family as happy.

According to a neighbor, "He was known to be a sex offender which was disturbing to all the families with young children around here."