THE family of an inmate who was found hanged in his cell was told he was still in police custody when they went to visit him, an inquest heard yesterday.

A jury heard how officers at Holme House Prison, in Stockton, discovered the body of Mark Allen, 24, of Lindsay Road, Hartlepool.

The inquest heard that when relatives came to visit, they were not told he died.

The court was told that visitor centre manager Roslyn Thompson, acting on information from volunteer worker Enid Bowes, told his family they could not see him because he was in police custody, so they left.

Mrs Bowes had received a phone call from the prison's communication room, in which she was told his family could not see him because there had been a disturbance, it was claimed.

Giving evidence, prison officer Simon Stoker said he made it clear twice during the call that he had explained what had happened.

He said: "I used the words 'death in custody' because that is what happened. If there had been a fire, I would have said 'fire', and if there had been an escape, I would have said 'escape'.

"At no time did I use the word 'police'."

Mrs Bowes told the inquest she did not hear Mr Stoker use the word death and assumed the reported disturbance meant Mr Allen had been returned to police custody.

The inquest continues.