A convicted attempted murderer who planned to kill a man he met on a dating app has died in a County Durham prison.
Chad Gurney, 27, but 19 at the time of the incident, died on September 24, 2026, at HMP Deerbolt.
An investigation into his death is ongoing.
Attempted murderer Chad Gurney, died in HMP Deerbolt (Image: LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE)
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “As with all deaths in custody the Prison and Probation Ombudsman will investigate, and it would be inappropriate to comment further until this has concluded.”
Gurney was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with a further five years on licence, after being convicted of attempted murder at Leicester Crown Court in January 2019.
Leicestershire Police said he had written a “murder plan” setting out eight ways he wanted to kill people, including slitting a man's throat with scissors.
The court heard Gurney had arranged to meet his victim through the dating app Grindr in Leicester on July 29 last year.
After meeting in a car park and engaging in consensual sexual activity in a nearby park, the pair walked back towards the car park.
HMP/YOI Deerbolt, near Barnard Castle (Image: ANDY FUTERS)
Shortly before 8.10pm, Gurney attacked the man with scissors, attempting to stab him in the neck.
His victim suffered a minor neck injury before realising what was happening and fleeing when Gurney attempted to stab him again.
Later that evening, Gurney walked into a police station and admitted the crime, telling officers he had intended to kill the man. He later claimed he had made a false confession.
Officers searching his address found a notebook titled “planning a murder”, alongside a diary containing thoughts of murderous intent.
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During police interviews, Gurney also admitted making plans to kill two other people on separate occasions, although neither plan was carried out.
Leicestershire Police said preliminary searches relating to a claim in his diary that he had already murdered someone proved negative.
The Prison and Probation Ombudsman will now investigate the circumstances surrounding Gurney's death.