Prisoner found hanged in jail

The prisoner was found hanging in the early hours

A prisoner has been found hanged in his cell at Cardiff Prison - just over a week after starting a 10-year sentence for attempted robbery.

Richard Engere was found hanging by his cellmate in the early hours of Monday morning after being jailed at Cardiff Crown Court on 3 October.

Cardiff Prison staff were alerted by his cellmate

Mr Engere, 30, from Porth in the Rhondda, was taken to the University of Wales Hospital in the capital, but attempts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead in the hospital.

The Prison Service is to begin an investigation into the incident.

A spokesman for the service said Mr Engere was found hanging at approximately 0405 BST.

Resuscitation attempts

Prison staff were alerted by his cellmate.

Following resucitation attempts at the prison, he was taken to the hospital but pronounced dead at 0500 BST.

Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan coroner Lawrence Addicott has been informed.

In September 2000, there had been 54 deaths in custody - around 30% more than the numbers so far this September.

The Home Office claimed that the statistics prove the government's suicide prevention strategy has been a success.