A murderer died from a slit throat at Swaleside prison, an inquest has heard.

Ruslanas Ignatenka was nine years into a life sentence when he died at the category B jail on the Isle of Sheppey in November 2015.

The 35-year-old Lithuanian was jailed in 2006 alongside Gintautas Leinartas for the murder of fellow countryman Alvydas Galubickas in Cambridgeshire.

The pair stabbed Mr Galubickas to death in a revenge attack after the victim had hit their friend and fellow defendant Deividas Balnius, who was acquitted of murder.

A pre-inquest review held at Archbishop’s Palace on Monday heard Ignatenka was found in his cell and despite the best efforts of staff died at the scene.

He was a known user of the illegal high Spice and a report on this will form a key part of the full inquest.

An investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman uncovered issues around the treatment of Ignatenka’s mental health following bizarre outbursts and episodes of self-harming.

Proceedings were adjourned until September when a second review will be held ahead of a full, week-long jury inquest in December.