Michael Williams was found dead in his Exeter prison cell in January 2002

The nine-strong panel returned a suicide verdict on Cornish father-of-two Michael Williams, 24, which was formally recorded by coroner Richard van Oppen.

Mr Williams hanged himself with a piece of torn sheet from the bars of the Exeter jail cell which he occupied alone, the inquest in the city was told on Wednesday.

Mr Williams, who was from Penzance, was found dead by prison staff at 0600 GMT on 22 January last year, four days after agreeing to being taken off a suicide watch regime.

'Please watch'

Mr van Oppen said Mr Williams also appeared to have tried to slash his wrists with the blade from a disposable razor which was found in the cell.

He read a statement from prison inmate John Holden, trained by the Samaritans to be a "listener," to whom inmates could talk in confidence about their problems.

Mr Holden went to Mr Williams's cell at 2000 GMT on 21 January, and stayed for about half an hour.

He said Mr Williams told him he had thought about suicide, saying it would be easy to do.

"But he quickly dismissed this and said he would not commit suicide because he had two children," said Mr Holden.

He told prison staff that an eye should be kept on Mr Williams.

A prepared document for staff coming on for night duty said in relation to Mr Williams: "Upset. Please watch."

Prison Officer Paul Wright said when he looked into Mr Williams' cell at 0315 GMT on 22 January, the prisoner was in bed apparently asleep.

He was found hanging when he was checked by Prison officer Martin Bruce-Jones at 0605 GMT.