A CUSTODY sergeant told an inquest that, contrary to earlier reports, he had not been made aware that a fellow police officer urgently wanted a prisoner to go to hospital instead of a police cell.

The prisoner, Kirk Williams, 26 of Stockton, had been arrested after running naked around a field in Eaglescliffe at about 11am on Sunday, April 17, 2011 but died after being taken into police custody.

Six officers had restrained an extremely agitated Mr Williams, who had been taking the stimulant MCat.

Former police constable Christopher Taylor previously had told the assistant Teesside coroner Sam Foulks he had made an initial assessment of Mr Williams and considered him to be a state of "medical emergency."

Mr Taylor told the jury inquest at Teesside Coroners Court in Middlesbrough, that he strongly argued Mr Williams should be taken to hospital and said he expressed that opinion to the custody sergeant at Middlesbrough Police Station.

However Sgt David Carter, who was the custody sergeant on the day, said that in fact he did not meet former PC Taylor until about eight months later.

He was made aware by another officer, PC George Lutz, that there had been a discussion about whether to take him to hospital but because of the way he was behaving, not because he was dangerously ill.

Instead Sgt Carter said he was told "there was a large male, violent and aggressive".

Sgt Carter did call the doctor to examine Mr Williams but said the doctor had simply "stuck his head through the cell door" before saying he should go to hospital.

He said: "I believe he (the doctor) made that decision because he (Williams) was violent."

Paramedics were called but the medics could not examine Mr Williams without police restraining him, Sgt Carter said.

The inquest is expected to last for four more weeks.