A PRISONER who was found hanging in her cell shortly after being transferred to Durham Prison had been on 24-hour suicide watch for more than a year, an inquest heard yesterday.

During her time in London's Holloway Prison, Susan Stevens, 48, was one of only a handful of female prisoners in the country to have been under the highest possible state of supervision for more than 12 months. Although the degree of supervision had been reduced in the weeks leading up to her transfer to Durham, prison staff had repeatedly recorded their concerns about her state of mind.

Prison Service psychologist Siobahn Cain told the jury inquest at Chester-le-Street Magistrates' Court, that Miss Stevens had a history of self-harm ranging from inflicting injuries with paper-clips up to attempted suicide.

Her threats of self-harm increased as the tenth anniversary of her parents' death approached - both had committed suicide within days of each other in 1993.

Ms Cain told the inquest that, despite having worked with the prisoner for four years, she had not been consulted over her proposed move from the prison where she had been held for eight years.

"I didn't understand why I was not involved," she told the inquest and added: "I suppose I was surprised - I didn't think it was something Miss Stevens would agree to."

The Londoner, who was serving life for arson and assault, was found dead in her cell on the now closed women's unit at Durham Prison on February 21, 2003 - days after her transfer.

Sarah Corbett, then the newly-arrived governor for resettlement at Holloway with responsibility for prisoners serving life sentences, told the inquest that the case had been the first time she had handled the transfer of a prisoner serving a life sentence.

Mrs Corbett said although she recognised the deceased had a complex set of problems she had arranged for the transfer within six weeks of starting her post and after only two brief meetings with staff to discuss the case.

She told the inquest: "There was concern about unrest around the prison - the segregation unit was very full."

But she added: "I didn't take that decision by myself, there were people more senior than me involved."

The inquest is expected to last a further four days.