A prisoner has been found dead in his cell at HMP Elmley.

Levi Smith, 41, was discovered just before 7am today. Paramedics were called but Smith was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

He is the seventh prisoner to die at Elmley in the last year.

The news comes on the day the prison received a damning report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons following an unannounced inspection.

The report found increasing rates of assault, drug abuse and suicide at HMP Elmley, which have been blamed on staff shortages.

Like neighbouring HMP Swaleside, the prison is seriously understaffed, with inmates locked in cells for up to 23 hours a day because there are no officers to supervise work or education.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Elmley prisoner Levi Smith was found unresponsive in his cell at about 6.45am.

“As with all deaths in custody, the Independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation.”