An inmate in Maidstone Prison was found hanged in his cell, an inquest has heard.

Petrut Cristea was a Romanian national who was serving a seven-year sentence for causing grievous bodily harm.

The 26-year-old had been transferred from Pentonville Prison to Maidstone - a prison that takes only foreign nationals - in March 2019. He spoke little English.

In a statement read to the inquest from prison officer Alfie Kitchener, who had known Mr Cristea throughout his time at Maidstone, Mr Cristea was described as a heavy drug-user and prolific self-harmer.

On June 1, last year, at 9.45am, warders found Mr Cristea suspended in his cell. He had last been observed alive at 7am.

Ambulance crews were called, but in the meantime the prison staff attempted resuscitation, including using a defibrillator.

Paramedics continued the work and although on their arrival there had been no signs of life, they were able to generate a faint heart beat.

Mr Cristea was taken to Maidstone Hospital, arriving at 11.11am, and placed in the intensive care ward, but scans showed that the lack of oxygen had caused serious damage to his brain, and he died a few days later, on June 4.

A post mortem by Dr Anna Rycroft established the cause of death as suspension and Mr Cristea had no other injuries other than scarring to his forearms.

The inquest is being held at the Shepway Centre in Oxford Road , Maidstone, before a jury of five men and five woman, with the coroner Sonia Hayes. It is expected to run until Friday.

Still to give evidence are nurses from the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, which was responsible for Mr Petrut's care while in prison, and prison staff. The inquest will also hear the report of an inquiry into the effects of Covid lockdown measures at the jail by the Prisons and Probationary Ombudsman.

There were no friends or relatives of Mr Cristea at the hearing yesterday.

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