A man who murdered an elderly woman in Grimsby was found dead in a maximum security prison just months before he may have been eligible to apply for parole. Wayne Spencer Franks - who called himself 'the Devil's chosen one' - was in his late 20s when he stabbed widow Mabel Whitelam 22 times in March 2003. She had opened her door to him , and after killing Mabel, heroin addict Franks ransacked her home and stole £80.

Franks had denied Mabel's murder but was found guilty after a trial. Police believe he targeted Mabel on her pension day. His defence barrister had said he thought Franks was suffering from a psychopathic disorder at the time of the killing and represented a "grave and immediate danger to others," it was reported in 2004.

READ MORE: Death notices and funeral announcements Family's tribute to 'soon-to-be-dad' Jack, 31, who tragically died in Wrawby collision Franks, 47, formerly of Grimsby, was found dead on his bed in his cell at the maximum security Wakefield prison on December 5, 2022, having taken a large dose of dihydrocodeine which it is thought he had acquired from another inmate as it had not been prescribed to him. The cause of his death was found to be heart disease with the dihydrocodeine having a contributory effect. It was believed that he had been dead for some time as there was evidence of rigor mortis.

A number of drugs were found in his system including one used for treating Alzheimer's disease, a condition that Franks did not have. Wayne Spencer .