A PERSHORE prisoner found hanging in his cell took his own life, an inquest jury has decided.

Darren Williams died in Blakenhurst Prison while awaiting trial for a charge of robbery, the hearing at Kidderminster Town Hall heard.

At the end of the four-day hearing, Worcestershire coroner Victor Round gave the jury the choice of returning a verdict of suicide or an open verdict if they were not convinced the 26-year-old intended to kill himself.

Last Wednesday, Mr Williams's mother, Margaret Merritt, told the inquest about her final meeting with her son on September 15, 1999.

"He said goodbye and said he loved me, but he always did that," she said. "He was a bit quieter than normal but that was all."

Mr Williams, of Hurst Park Cottages, was found hanging from the drawstring of a laundry bag the next day.

The inquest heard how he had talked about the possibility of suicide in letters to family members but told his mother: "I won't end my life as long as I have your love".

However, in another letter, he said he realised he could be facing 10 years or more in prison if he was convicted of robbery and said he would not have the strength to cope with it.

His suicide came just weeks before his trial was due to start.

Barrister James Laddie, representing Mr Williams's family, argued that the jury should only be allowed to consider an open verdict.

He said Mr Williams had been wrestling with the idea of suicide but said he would only do it if he were convicted of robbery.

He said there were no prominent suicide notes in his cell and notes and artwork that were found were unfinished.

"His letters don't suggest that he was oblivious to the feelings of his family," said Mr Laddie. "He loved his family very much.

"It's astonishing that he should take his life without completing his suicide notes."

But Mr Round decided the jury could properly return a suicide verdict, which they did after almost four hours of deliberation.