Khaled Hassan, who was jailed for setting a homeless person on fire, has died in prison after inhaling the drug Spice. The 49-year-old was found unresponsive in his cell at HMP Northumberland on October 3, 2024, during a morning count, according to a Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) report.
Circumstances of death
Paramedics attended and pronounced Hassan deceased. Blood and urine samples taken during post-mortem examination indicated that substances had been inhaled immediately before his death. Pathologists concluded that his cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest due to synthetic cannabinoid (Spice) inhalation. An inquest on November 3, 2025, concluded that Hassan's death was drug related.
Staff found a tampered vape, often used to inhale illicit substances, near him. They began chest compressions and continued CPR, using a defibrillator. Paramedics arrived at 5:40am and confirmed he had passed away.
Background and crime
Hassan, from South Shields, was remanded to HMP Durham on July 11, 2017, and later convicted of theft and grievous bodily harm with intent. He was sentenced to nine years and six months imprisonment and moved to HMP Northumberland in July 2018. He had inflicted four hours of "torture" on a homeless man, repeatedly setting him on fire, beating him with a crutch, and spitting on him as he lay in a churchyard. The court heard that Hassan held a lighter to the man's sleeping bag, clothes, hair, eyebrows, and body on at least 25 separate occasions.
Release and recall
Hassan was released from prison on April 11, 2022, but his licence was revoked due to concerns about his failure to keep in touch with his offender manager, deterioration of his mental health, and suspected drug use, the report said. He was recalled to prison and taken to HMP Durham on April 25, 2024.
The PPO report stated that Hassan had a history of drug and alcohol misuse and was initially open to working with the substance misuse service at Durham. He later declined support after being transferred to HMP Northumberland on April 30, 2024. On August 30, 2024, he tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids during a mandatory drugs test. As a result, he was issued a penalty of 14 days' stoppage of earnings and access to the prison shop, suspended for six months.
