Vile predator who raped young girls dies behind bars months into 25 year sentence

A vile paedophile who raped and sexually assualted two young girls several times has died in prison. Thomas Reay died behind bars after being sentenced for 25 years for the horrific child sex offences.

The Geordie stole the childhoods of his young victims due to the sickening abuse, Durham Crown Court heard last year. His crimes were only brought to light when a his victims courageously informed a loved one.

Reay was serving his sentence at HMP Holme House in Teeside before his death. The 67-year-old passed on July 9, just a few months into his lengthy sentence.

An investigation has been launched following his passing which revealed he did recieve a good standard of care according to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO). A recently published PPO report said: "The healthcare team responded promptly and proactively to Mr Reay’s needs.

"[The clinical reviewer] commended healthcare staff for sitting with Mr Reay as he was dying.

"A prisoner wrote to the PPO investigator praising healthcare staff at Holme House who sat with and comforted Mr Reay at every opportunity. He also commended prison staff who allowed Mr Reay’s fellow prisoners to sit with him to distract and comfort him during his final days."

No issues of concern were found and at the inquest held in December the coroner concluded that Reay died from natural causes.

At the time of his imprisonment, Detective Constable Paul Armstrong, of Northumbria Police, said Reay "subjected the victims in this case to horrific ordeals over the course of a number of years" and branded him a "vile predator who stripped his victims of their childhood innocence through repeated abuse".