A JURY has returned a narrative verdict at the inquest of a prisoner who was found dead in his cell.

They decided that numerous factors contributed to the death of Jeffrey Edward Parkes, who died aged 40 in the segregation unit of the Verne Prison on Portland.

The Dorchester inquest had previously heard that Mr Parkes was found on the morning of April 8 last year in a locked cell with a ligature around his neck and he had told a doctor he was having suicidal thoughts.

Delivering the verdict after the two day inquest, the jury foreman said: “The prison and parole system contributed to Mr Parkes’ death in the respect that Mr Parkes spent far more time in prison than his tarriff and appeared to feel that the system had forgotten about him. He clearly felt let down and frustrated by this.

“We also feel that the time spent in segregation may have been a contributory factor.”

Pamela Fox, a friend of Mr Parkes who met him at a prison church service and made regular visits, told the inquest that he had admitted using drugs to her.

She said: “He was definitely on drugs at the time because I saw the evidence of it. The last couple of times I saw him he was withdrawing from drugs. He had the shakes and he looked awful.”

The jury’s narrative verdict also said that further contributory factors leading to Mr Parkes’ death appeared to be Mr Parkes’ use of drugs, debt he was in to others and whether communication between the mental health team and prison staff was sufficient.

Speaking after the inquest, Miss Fox paid tribute to Mr Parkes as ‘a kind, caring and Christian man’.

She added: “The years of imprisonment had taken their toll.”