The treatment of a prisoner in the days before he was found hanged has come under intense scrutiny at an inquest.

Steven Neil Weir was found hanged in his cell at HMP Lincoln just days after being taken off a register of inmates thought to be at risk of suicide or self-harm.

An inquest yesterday looked at the sequence of events that led to the death of Weir, 35, who was awaiting trial on three rape charges and a further charge of grievous bodily harm.

The Nottingham man had to be rushed for treatment after cutting himself just weeks before his death.

Weir had also told prison officers that he was very unhappy with being locked up in his cell after losing his job as a cleaner at the prison.

But a string of prison officers told the inquest that Weir had appeared upbeat in the days before his death on February 24, 2008 – and was confident of being cleared in court.

Senior prison officials who decided to take Weir off the at-risk register shortly before his death insisted there was no indication that he would take his own life.

The inquest continues.

For more, see Tuesday's Echo.