Welwyn's ex-Dreamboys boss David Richards dies in prison

The 42-year-old was given a 27-year sentence in January after fracturing Alex Alam's skull in a carefully planned attack, following the breakdown of their relationship.

He was found by wardens at HMP Lowdham Grange, with a spokesperson from the prison saying: "We can confirm that a prisoner died at HMP Lowdham Grange on 13 March 2023. 

"The next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with the family.

"As with all deaths in custody, there will be an investigation by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and therefore we are unable to comment further at this stage."

A cause of death has not been given.

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On April 3, 2022, Richards laid in wait for hours with an axe to ambush Ms Alam when she left her home in Stock, Essex, after he had seen her with reality TV star Kirk Norcross.

He attacked her in darkness while children were inside the house, tying her up and dragging her by her hair.

She suffered a fractured skull and cuts to her face and scalp in what Judge David Turner KC described as a "bloodbath" at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Richards sobbed at the sentencing hearing after he was found guilty of attempted murder, with the judge adding: "Your dream home, family and lifestyle to which you had aspired had very sadly unravelled and left you depressed, isolated and angry."

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In her victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Alam said: "I've been utterly betrayed beyond belief by the person I chose to have children with, turning my life upside down.

"The scars are a constant reminder of what he did to me."

Richards was a former stripper with the Dreamboys group, before going on to manage them in 2013, and used to live in The Avenue, Welwyn.