THE man accused of killing mother-of-two Julie Mordue has been found dead in his prison cell.

Nigel John McLean is believed to have hanged himself with a bed sheet in Durham Jail, where he was being held on remand.

He was charged with the murder of 38-year-old Mrs Mordue at her home in Vicars Croft, Northallerton, on April 21.

When he appeared before Teesside Crown Court earlier this month he did so by video-link from the prison - and both his wrists were heavily bandaged.

McLean, 40, was found hanging in his cell by prison staff at about 2.15pm on Saturday, it was confirmed today.

Warders and trained paramedics immediately rushed in and attempted to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead an hour later.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "As with all deaths in custody, the prisons and probation ombudsman will conduct an investigation."

McLean was the former boyfriend of Mrs Mordue, who worked as a kitchen assistant at the Allertonshire School in Northallerton.

However it is understood the couple had split up some two weeks before Mrs Mordue was stabbed to death.