A LONG Lartin prisoner serving a life sentence for murdering a teenager and dumping her body in the street has been found dead in his cell.

Anwar Islam, aged 36 from Swansea, was found hanging in a segregation-unit at the high-security prison near Evesham at 7.30am last Saturday. It is believed the inmate had used bed sheets as a ligature to take his own life.

Islam was jailed in 2000 after beating 18-year-old Johanne Powell to death at his Swansea home.

At his trial at Swansea Crown Court the jury heard that Ms Powell had been put through 24 hours of beatings before her body was dumped on the pavement outside Islam's flat. She had more than 60 bruises, six broken ribs, a broken arm and three cuts to her liver.

Islam denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility, claiming he was seriously psychotic.

An inquest into the death of Mr Islam was expected to be opened and adjourned by Worcestershire coroner Victor Round, yesterday.