A MAN battling against his drug addiction was found hanged in a prison cell days after arriving at the jail.

An inquest into the death of Gary Robert Taylor heard that the 27-year-old was so desperate to free himself of his drug addiction that he deliberately breached his parole conditions so he could get detox help in prison.

But just days after arriving at Forest Bank Prison in Agecroft, Mr Taylor, of Horsa Street, Tonge Moor, was found dead in his cell.

The Bolton inquest was told that Mr Taylor had managed to come off heroin while previously in the prison, but found it difficult to stay away from drugs once back home in Bolton.

A loving relationship with partner Vicky Whittaker came under strain because of his addiction and the petty crime he turned to to fund it. In a bid to kick the habit, he missed appointments with his probation officer knowing he would be sent back to jail where he could get the help he needed. But within days he was dead.

The hearing continues.

(Proceeding)

Prison custody officer Joanne Davidson told how the inquest she was in charge of C1 wing on the night Mr Taylor died in November 2001.

Early in the morning she spotted him sitting on the floor of his cell in an unnatural position.

The mattress from the top bunk had been propped up against the wall and a chair placed on the bunk.

A trainer shoelace had been tied to the chair leg and the other end was round Mr Taylor's neck.

Without opening the door she ran for help.

Shift manager Timothy White and senior staff nurse Andrew Burgher rushed to the cell unaware of the nature of the emergency.

Both told the inquest Mr Taylor was showing no signs of life but Mr Burgher wanted to go and get some resuscitation equipment from the healthcare department.

He did not have the keys to unlock it so Mr White went with him, clearing the cell of staff.

Both Mr Tayor's mother, Eunice Barnes and girlfriend Miss Whittaker told the jury of four men and three women that they had received phone calls from him while he was at Forest Bank and he had given no indication that he planned to commit suicide.

"He was looking forward to getting out and making things right with Vicky," said Mrs Barnes.

Miss Whittaker added that she believes it was the pain of withdrawing from heroin which caused him to take his own life.

"Withdrawing from drugs is very hard and very painful. It is possible the pain was so bad for him that night," she said.

(Proceeding)