THE case of a 56-year-old man who was awaiting sentence for an offence of racially aggravated harassment and assaulting a special constable has been closed after he died in prison.

Duncan Ford, of North Station Road, Colchester, had admitted using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour to a woman causing her alarm or distress and at the time demonstrated hostility based in her membership or presumed membership of a particular racial group, namely being black.

He had also admitted an offence of assaulting an emergency worker, namely a special constable.

Both offences were committed on November 15, 2022 and Ford was in prison while he was awaiting sentence.

On Tuesday, Ipswich Crown Court heard that Ford had died in prison on March 2.

The hearing was also told a report would be passed on to the coroner after his death had been investigated by the prison.

Judge Emma Peters said she had acknowledged that Ford had died while in prison and closed his case file.