A convicted murderer has been found dead in his cell at Chelmsford Prison.

William Smythe had been sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday at Chelmsford Crown Court after being convicted of the murder of Jennifer Stanley at Fernhill Caravan Park in Harlow last October.

He stabbed her 22 times after she told him she was moving away.

A spokesman for HM Prison Service said today that Mr Smythe, 46, had been found collapsed in his cell, which he shared with two other prisoners, at the prison on Friday morning.

A post mortem examination is to be held to determine the cause of death.

"The police have been informed and the next of kin," said the spokesman.

"There will be an investigation by the prison service into what is a death in custody and the police will also investigate the death and prepare a report for the coroner. An inquest will be held at a later date."

An Essex Police spokesman confirmed they had been called in to investigate Mr Smythe's death.

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