A verdict of accidental death has been returned by an inquest jury on a Dartmoor prisoner who was found dead after 24 hours handcuffed in a leather body belt.

Dennis Stevens had won the respect and trust of staff

Dennis Stevens, 29, from Bristol, was restrained for 20 minutes by prison officers after punching one of them. He was then strapped in the belt, the hearing in Exeter was told.

Mr Stevens, who had been visually checked every 15 minutes, was found dead in a cell at the Devon jail on the morning of October 18, 1995.

Exeter coroner Richard van Oppen said Mr Stevens had died from acute kidney failure due to muscle damage which aggravated a blood condition.

Helen Shaw: the belts should be outlawed

Helen Shaw, a director of the Inquest pressure group, said after the verdict that body belts were a "medieval relic" which should be outlawed in prisons.

Ms Shaw said Mr Stevens' family would take civil action against the Prison Service.

Relatives had wanted a verdict of unlawful killing but this was rejected. Mr Stevens' brother, Douglas, said: "He was treated just as badly as you would treat a dog."

Dartmoor jail where Dennis Stevens died

John May, manager of the Wales and West Prison Service area, said staff were "deeply distressed" by the tragedy.

Mr Stevens had earned the trust and respect of staff and inmates and it remained a mystery why he changed into someone who was at times so violent and aggressive that he had to be restrained, added Mr May.

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