A RECENTLY released prisoner was found dead in his room at Worcester's St Paul's Hostel, an inquest has revealed.

Yesterday, coroner Victor Round said when staff broke into 42-year-old Ian Evan's room, on Monday, March 1, they found him collapsed on his bed.

In the pocket of the former Long Lartin inmate they found a syringe and a wrap containing a substance, which has been sent off for analysis.

Mr Round adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed while blood samples are tested.

Inquest told of suicide

A MALVERN man who had a history of depression was found hanging from a tie.

Graham Curran's body was discovered by his lodger, Anthony O'Shea, hanging from an upstairs banister of their Merick Road home, on Thursday December 18 last year.

At yesterday's inquest Worcestershire coroner, Victor Round, read a statement from Det Sgt David Lewis, which said: "Mr Curran suffered a nervous breakdown in 1995 and was admitted to Worcester's Newtown Hospital.

"There he was diagnosed with manic depressive illness."

The statement went on to say that 48-year-old Mr Curran, who used to work as an accounts clerk, had acquired a great deal of debt, which was eventually brought under control with the help of his father.

The inquest heard that prior to his death, Mr Curran said to Mr O'Shea: "I may as well hang myself and get it over with."

Mr Round recorded that Mr Curran had taken his own life.