A convicted murderer who ran a drug network from inside his prison cell has died from a multiple drug overdose behind bars, a damning official report has revealed.
A Brutal Crime and a Life Sentence
David Smith, 45, was serving a life sentence for the horrific 2013 killing of grandfather Steven Youll in Benwell, Newcastle. Smith and an accomplice, Michael Wait, attacked Mr Youll, 45, following a dispute after a drinking session. The father-of-three and grandfather sustained 71 separate injuries in the street assault. Both men were handed life sentences with a minimum term of 16 years.
Smith died on 8 February 2024 while incarcerated at HMP Northumberland, a Category C prison in Morpeth. A post-mortem examination found his death was caused by multiple drug toxicity, with substances including bromazolam, buprenorphine and olanzapine in his system. None of these drugs had been prescribed to him. Underlying ischaemic heart disease was also a contributing factor.
Prisoner's Double Life: 'Helpful' Cleaner and Drug Kingpin
An investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) found that while Smith's clinical care in prison was deemed reasonable, his activities behind bars told a different story. Officially, prison records described him as "helpful and well regarded." He worked in the education department and later as a cleaner.
However, the PPO report uncovered that Smith was allegedly at the heart of a prolific drug trafficking operation. Around 20 security intelligence reports in 2023 linked him to smuggling drugs and mobile phones into the prison, exploiting his trusted roles. Intelligence suggested he was one of two men running the drug network on House Block 1.
The report detailed how drugs were believed to be smuggled via the education department, with prisoners hiding substances in socks and trainers to bypass body scanners. Smith allegedly received contraband by mail and during visits, using codes and pictures to place orders. He was implicated in the rapid distribution of a new strain of Spice that left several inmates severely unwell, suffering seizures and convulsions.
Systemic Failures and Prison Response
The investigation highlighted a critical failure in the prison's security protocols. Despite the volume of intelligence against him, Smith was reallocated to his cleaner role without a security review. The report stated that security checks were only mandatory for jobs outside the house-block, not for internal positions of trust, creating a dangerous loophole.
In response to Smith's death and the findings, the PPO has advised HMP Northumberland to review its process for allocating trusted roles to ensure security information is fully considered. Following the incident, prison staff were reminded of key welfare check requirements.
The report acknowledged that the prison has implemented measures to combat drugs, including scanning mail, deploying more drug detection dogs, and enhancing gate security. It noted "strong partnership working" with police and efforts to tackle staff corruption, which had been "particularly fruitful."
An HMP Northumberland spokesperson said: "Our thoughts continue to be with the family of Mr Smith. We have cooperated fully with the Prisons and Ombudsman’s investigation, and have already implemented the agreed actions from its report."
