Young dad 'determined to turn his life around' after being jailed dies at Strangeways

The family of a young dad 'determined to turn his life around' after being jailed have spoken of their heartbreak following his death at Strangeways.

Paddy Ward, 28, from Clarksfield, Oldham, passed away at HMP Manchester last Tuesday (August 18).

The cause of his death is not yet known. Toxicology results were inconclusive, mother of his children Janine Williams said.

Paddy was jailed in May following an incident in which a van was robbed. He was sent down for four years and four months.

He was determined to make a fresh start upon his release, his family said.

In a message to Janine - passed on through his sister-in-law Dannielle - prior to his death, Paddy said: "Love you all so, so much. Love my family. What we [are] all going through is so hard. I am sorry.

The family in happier times (Family handout)

"New year, fresh start for me. I love you so much, you are my life.

"No matter where you are, what you do, I'm always thinking of you."

Janine, 31, is mum to Paddy's two kids - Iyla-Rae, three, and Paddy-Riley, two.

Their third child, Milania, tragically died before her birth.

Janine said Paddy had his troubles, but had a 'heart of gold'.

"I don't know who's going to walk my Iyla down the aisle now," she said.

Paddy with Iyla-Rae (Family handout)

"He wanted to change. He was the best daddy. Iyla idolised him."

Paddy was one of seven children.

Brother Martin, 29, said the siblings lost their mother last year, which added to Paddy's heartbreak.

"He was going through a hard time," he said.

"He lost his daughter and his mother. He was heartbroken."

'He was the best daddy' (Family handout)

Martin said Paddy had vowed to turn his life around after serving his sentence.

He added: "He wanted to stop drinking, he wanted to settle back down with his family.

"He wanted to get his driving licence back so he could get back doing gardening, which he did before. He was always talking about his kids.

"He couldn't wait to be home. He was all about his family."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “HMP Manchester prisoner Patrick Ward died on August 18. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed.”

The case will now be passed to a coroner, the spokesman added.