HEROIN addict, who hanged himself in prison, had a packet of the drug in his tracksuit pocket, an inquest was told.

Twenty four-year-old addict Mark Anthony Allen was probably suffering heroin withdrawal when he hanged himself using a bed sheet, in his cell at Holme House Prison, Stockton.The unemployed Hartlepool factory worker stole to feed his £100 a day habit.

Forensic scientist Julie Evans told Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield: "It's highly likely he was experiencing opiate withdrawal at the time of his death.''

Dawn McPherson, Allen's girlfriend, said he had been fighting his drugs habit, but started taking increasing amounts of heroin when his GP reduced his medication.

Allen, told Ms McPherson and his mum, Joan Bowt (COR) that Holme House jail, where he had served an earlier sentence, was "horrible'', and vowed: "I will never go back there again.

"It was the worst prison he had ever been in,'' Mrs Bowt told the inquest jury.

Ms McPherson said Allen, who had been treated for depression in 2001, had once hinted at taking his own life.

She said Allen had a £10 bag of heroin the night before his arrest on suspicion of burglary on Thursday May 9, 2002.

Heroin was found in his tracksuit pocket, following his death in prison on May 11, although no drugs had been found on him, during a search at Hartlepool Police Station where he had earlier been taken.

"There was no reason to believe he was hiding drugs,'' retired custody sergeant Peter Hollis told the inquest. "He was searched, there was nothing found on him.''

Hartlepool Magistrates had refused Allen of Lindsay Road, Hartlepool, bail on the recommendation of Cleveland Police.

Police Sergeant David Smithson said Allen was refused bail because he had a "horrendous'' criminal record, committing 36 offences whilst on bail previously and had failed to answer bail 14 times - the last incident just ten days before his arrest in May 2002.

Sgt Smithson said Allen displayed no signs of drug withdrawal, while in police custody, but asked to see a doctor and became "agitated and started shouting'' when told he would be remanded to prison. The inquest continues. .