THE family of a man found hanged in his cell are threatening to take civil action against a remand centre following an inquest into his death.

A jury returned a majority verdict that Bryan George Totton, 20, took his own life at Northallerton Remand Centre, North Yorkshire.

Afterwards, Mr Totton's sister, Hazel, and her partner, David Ward, said they would be taking legal advice.

Mr Totton, who had a history of depression, was found hanged from the bars of his cell window by cellmate Adam Kilminster, at 11.30am on February 13, last year.

The previous day, he had been taken off suicide watch, which had involved Mr Totton, of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, being checked by prison officers every 15 minutes.

In evidence, the inquest in Pickering was told that he was placed on the prison's strict Communal Cell policy, or Comcell, meaning he should have been with another prisoner at all times or checked regularly if left alone.

However, senior prisoner officer Stephen John said yesterday that Mr Totton was actually placed on Same Cell policy, which has lower standards of supervision.

The use of Comcell was discontinued at the prison following his death, the inquest was told.