High-profile Perth prisoner is found dead in Hakea prison cell

A ‘high-profile’ prisoner who is the step-brother of the man who kidnapped Cleo Smith, has been found dead in his cell in Perth‘s Hakea prison.

Ashley Bropho is accused of luring a nine-year-old girl from a Doubleview park in 2022 before exposing himself to her and assaulting her.

In September, Bropho pleaded guilty to two counts of indecently dealing with a child under 13 and encouraging a child to engage in sexual acts and was set to be sentenced on March 17.

The West Australian reports Bropho was beaten to death at the maximum security prison. 

On Tuesday Perth Magistrates Court heard Bropho said, ‘hey kid, come here’ before offering her a burger from Hungry Jacks and encouraging her back to his home.

Once inside Bropho’s house, the court heard he took her to his bedroom where  he exposed himself to her and assaulted her.

Police say his carer then banged on the door interrupting the assault and the girl left with her dog running back to her grandparents home.

A Department of Justice spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the 40-year-old Aboriginal man was found unresponsive in his cell just after 8am.

‘The prison is assisting the investigation and two units have been placed in lockdown to assist police,’ the Department of Justice spokeswoman said.

St John Ambulance paramedics responded to a call about 8.20am from the maximum security jail in Canning Vale but Bropho could not be saved.

A ‘high-profile’ prisoner has been found dead in his cell in Perth ‘s Hakea prison – with the jail going into lockdown

The state run prison is an all male facility which the Western Australian government says focuses on ‘rehabilitation’.

At least four inmates were set to appear via video link in Perth courtrooms but following the incident they have all been cancelled.

More to come.

It is understood that the man aged in his 40s was beaten to death at the maximum security prison