A PRISONER told an inquest a fellow inmate found dead in his cell had needed treatment for depression.

Wayne Roe, 29, of Hartington Place, Southend, was found dead in his cell at Chelmsford Prison just two days after arriving, having been sentenced to 12 months for assault.

The inquest, which began at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court yesterday heard he had hanged himself and was found dead at 5.10am on Sunday, March 23, last year.

Medical professionals told the coroner, Eleanor McGann, his condition, which was reliant on alcohol and saw him upset over the breakdown of a relationship, did not need urgent medical attention.

But James Hollingsworth, a fellow inmate and trained listener with the Samaritans, spoke to Roe the day before and said he did not seem well. Mr Hollingsworth told the inquest: “I noticed him in the yard just sitting on the floor.

“I walked round a couple of times asking if he was OK and he started crying.

“I tried to have a conversation with him, but he did not seem to want to talk.

“He asked me if he could have a cigarette so I gave him one and he said he would give it back to me the next Friday.

“He said he was on medication for alcohol withdrawal, but said he wanted something for depression.”

Prison GP, Dr Rajinder Sagu, saw Roe when he entered the prison on Friday, March 21, and put him on medication for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

He said: “I asked if he was being seen by a mental health team, or had any history of self harming or suicidal tendencies.

“He was quite clear there were no mental health issues and that he was not suicidal.”

The following morning Roe was assessed for drug and alcohol dependency by nurse Samantha Verasamy. She noted a mark on his head after banging it against his cell wall, but reported him as saying he had not done it to harm himself, but purely out of anger.

Nurse Verasamy did not alert his state of mental health to the weekend officers, but said she would bring it up at a meeting on the Monday as it was not urgent.

Prison officer Jason Cox saw Roe later on the Saturday and again noted no signs of concern.

He said: “When I last locked him up on the Saturday I said good night and see you in the morning, he replied ‘see you in the morning’.

“I was very surprised to come in the next morning and hear he was dead.

“I had no concerns about him whatsoever.”

The inquest continues.