THE mother of a prisoner found dead in his cell has told an inquest he was let down by the system.

Former soldier Morris Cowen, 30, of Blyth, Northumberland, died while on remand in Durham Prison.

Mr Cowen, a heroin addict, was found in December 2003 hanging from sink taps in his cell in the segregation wing - where he was taken after an argument with prison officers about moving to the hospital wing - from a noose made from clothes.

He was initially charged with wounding with intent after he allegedly beat his 53-year-old father, Douglas, at the home they shared in October 2003 during a row, but the charge was changed to murder after Mr Cowen Senior died.

A police investigation found that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Cowen's death.

Catherine Todd, the dead man's mother, said he had suffered from his father's violence when he was boy, but had been staying at his father's house when they had a fight over "childhood issues".

She said that he had he would kill himself if his father died, but police had told her he would be placed on suicide watch in jail.

"I believe the system has let him down. I believe he has been allowed to slip through the net.''

The inquest jury is expected to return its verdict today.