Inmate's death was 'misadventure'

The death of a prisoner who strangled herself with a towel was misadventure, an inquest has ruled.

Clare Parsons was found unconscious in her cell at Eastwood Park Prison, South Gloucestershire a day after warders reduced her suicide watch.

The Bristol inquest heard that the 20-year-old from Chard, Somerset, had harmed herself 155 times in the year leading to her death.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Any death in custody is a tragedy."

Torn towel

The inquest had been told that Ms Parsons had a "prolific" history of self harm.

On the morning of 18 January prison officers gave her back her possessions as a reward for not hurting herself for eight consecutive days.

But in the early hours of the following day she was found unconscious in her cell.

Attempts to resuscitate her failed and she was declared dead at Bristol's Frenchay Hospital at 1235 GMT.

Pathologist Dr Hugh White who carried out the post mortem examination on Miss Parsons told the inquest that she had died after strangling herself with a ligature made of torn up towel.