Hourly checks on a 16-year-old inmate at a young offenders' institution in west London were useless because he was determined to kill himself, an inquest heard.

Kevin Jacobs was 10 weeks into a six month sentence for robbery and assault when he hanged himself in Feltham Young Offenders' Institution on 29 September 2001.

He was being checked hourly but was not placed under constant supervision, despite trying to hang himself two weeks earlier.

The inquest at Hammersmith and Fulham Coroner's Court heard that he had previously slashed his arms with glass and taken an overdose of ibuprofen.

Feltham YOI

Feltham is Britain's largest young offenders' unit It serves every court in London and the South East Government inspectors have criticised its poor conditions and violent reputation

Coroner Alison Thompson told the jury they would examine "whether there was any failure in the system at the time relevant to the duty to protect his life".

Tim Owen, for Jacobs's mother Janet and brother Jamie, told the inquest: "Looking at all the circumstances an hourly check by you (the night patrol officer) is absolutely useless because a boy determined to kill himself when locked up in his cell at night could do it in between checks."

Steve Faulkner, the principal officer in charge, defended the decision not to place Jacobs on constant observation.

He told the inquest: "There were probably about 20 or 25 young men in a similar situation to Kevin. We have to prioritise individuals as the need dictates.

"If he required a constant observation, he would have had it."

The inquest continues.