Bradford father-of-two Anthony Forrest spoke of killing himself when he was sent to Armley prison, an inquest jury heard today.

Less than three weeks later, the unemployed tyre fitter was found hanging in his communal cell.

Mr Forrest, 31, formerly of Inkerman Street, Cutler Heights, Bradford, was on remand in the Leeds jail while awaiting trial on an attempted murder charge.

He was sent there on March 5 and found dead on March 23 last year.

His mother, Maureen Forrest, wept as Home Office pathologist Dr Naomi Carter described at Wakefield Coroner's Court the injuries to his body caused by the crudely-fashioned ligature found around his neck.

Dr Carter said that he was likely to have lost consciousness in seconds.

A blood test revealed that he had no traces of drugs or alcohol in his system at the time.

Ruth Bundey, solicitor representing Mr Forrest's family, told the hearing that his prison medical notes recorded that he had spoken of self-harm and suicide on admission.

The jury was told that he made the remark: "Given the opportunity I would kill myself".

Miss Bundey added that the dead man's GP, Dr Michael Ross, had alerted the prison authorities of a possible suicide risk by fax.

Mr Forrest had struggled with drugs dependency in the past and at one time smoked £50 worth of heroin a day, but had succeeded in coming off heroin with help from workers at Dr Ross's specialist clinic.

However, in July 1997, he took six ecstasy tablets at a dance club which produced psychotic symptoms when he spoke of hearing God's voice, the inquest jury heard.

Dr Francesca Harrop, consultant psychologist, said she had interviewed Mr Forrest in prison and he had denied that he was planning to take his own life.

The inquest continues.

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