A PRISONER who killed himself had become a different person after he discovered the body of his murdered brother, an inquest heard yesterday.

Recovering drug addict Michael Jamieson hanged himself with a torn sheet in his cell in Durham Prison, in August last year.

The death of the 28-year-old prompted prison officers to change their procedures in recording information about prisoners who have harmed themselves.

Speaking at the inquest at Durham County Hall, his mother, Valerie Wilkinson, told of how her son had never been in any trouble until he found the body of his brother Tony Jamieson.

Michael had discovered his brother's body moments after he had been shot in an apparently motiveless killing outside the then family home at Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear, 13 years ago.

Mrs Wilkinson told North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle: "When Michael was a bairn there was no problem. He used to go round all the old peoples' homes helping them with messages. He was okay until I lost my eldest son when Michael was about 15. Michael came round the corner just as his brother was shot.

"He was 15 then and his character changed completely - he just went off the rails.

"He was supposed to have counselling after his brother's death, but he got no help at all."

Senior prison officer Paul Appleton said he had seen a vast improvement in Mr Jamieson in the days before he died.

Mr Jamieson, whose last known address was Aire Street, in Middlesbrough, was remanded to the jail by Derwentside magistrates, on minor driving charges, in June 1999.

He hanged himself on August 1, and was taken to Dryburn Hospital, where he was taken off a life support machine two days later.

Home office pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper said Mr Jamieson had died from brain damage caused by hanging.

A jury returned a verdict of suicide on Mr Jamieson.