Boy's inquest is told centre was

Adam Rickwood, 14, became the youngest person in Britain to die in custody when he was found hanged at Hassockfield Secure Training Centre, near Consett, in August 2004.

Centre director Trevor Wilson-Smith told an inquest in Chester-le-Street yesterday that at the time of the teenager's death, the 42-bed unit had 43 inmates and was so full that one had to sleep in the medical centre.

He told the jury: "We were fit to bursting at that point, to be honest.

"We had 43 young people, with one young woman sleeping in healthcare because there was nowhere else to place her."

During the course of the year, Adam was one of 230 prisoners to be sent to Hassockfield, a mixed-sex unit for teenagers that housed remand prisoners and convicted murderers.

Professionals involved in Adam's care have told the inquest how Hassockfield was an appropriate place for him.

But during cross-examination, Richard Hermer, representing the teenager's family, told the jury that in a report after his first visit to Hassockfield, the Prison Service Ombudsman said he was "surprised at how austere and prison-like the place was, furnishings were sparse and movement was impeded by an oppressive number of locked doors".

The inquest earlier heard that the day before Adam's death, his family had smuggled cigarettes to him, which were later discovered.

Yesterday, the hearing was told that, under the terms of its contract with the Youth Justice Board, the centre would be given penalty points if contraband was found on inmates and could ultimately suffer financial penalties if it was given enough points.

Mr Wilson-Smith said: "My reasons for cracking down on cigarettes have nothing to do with performance points.

"Apart from the illegality of these young people smoking, my main concern is fire. If someone is smoking in their room, the duvet could catch fire, the bin could catch fire and everyone is in danger."

The inquest continues.