A prisoner who carried out a horrific 'prison napalm' attack on his sleeping cellmate has been found dead in his cell.
The Vape Dispute That Led to a Vicious Assault
Danny Smith, 34, launched the assault at HMP Altcourse in July 2023. The attack followed an argument over a vape. Smith threw a kettle of boiling water mixed with sugar over his victim, a substance known in prisons for its severe burning effect.
The victim awoke screaming in agony with burns to his arm and neck. He later told how he realised what had happened when he saw an upturned kettle and traces of sugar. He required hospital treatment at Whiston Hospital, sustaining light scarring and a perforated eardrum that caused hearing problems.
During the altercation, which prison officers broke up, Smith had shouted that his cellmate was going to kill him. He later admitted to guards that the motive for the attack was because the man "wouldn't let him use his vape".
Sentencing, Transfer, and an Unnatural Death
Smith pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 16 months in prison in July of this year. He was subsequently transferred to category C HMP Risley near Warrington.
On 27 November 2025, prison staff found Smith unresponsive in his cell. Despite paramedics being called, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
An inquest opening at Cheshire Coroners' Court recorded his cause of death as "unnatural". A full inquest has been listed for October next year.
Independent Investigations Launched
Following the death, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) initiated an independent investigation. A PPO spokesperson offered condolences to Smith's family and confirmed the probe.
The Prison Service also confirmed the death, stating that, as with all deaths in custody, it would be investigated by the PPO.
During Smith's sentencing hearing earlier this year, his counsel revealed he had a history of struggling to share a cell, with records from as far back as 2017 suggesting he should not have had a cellmate. The court heard he was "very unwell" and medicated after the 2023 incident.
Sentencing Judge David Swinnerton noted Smith's extensive criminal record of 123 previous offences from 65 convictions. He inferred Smith was suffering from a "psychotic condition" at the time but said the two-year delay since the attack was a mitigating factor.
