A DEVASTATED son whose father hanged himself in prison, today demanded a full-scale inquiry into why he was put in a cell on his own.

Former bus driver Accrington-born Alan Ratcliffe, 53, who had been described as a danger to himself, was found hanging from the bars of his single cell in Preston Prison.

Mr Ratcliffe, who was on remand for the attempted murder of his second wife, Vivien, was put in a cell on his own last Thursday, three days before he died.

Today, his grieving son, also called Alan, 28, of Burnley Road, Blackburn, said: "He was a high suicide risk, so why did they put him in a cell on his own?

"He had been refused bail twice because the courts felt he was a danger to himself. He should never have been on his own." Mr Ratcliffe's lawyer has already called for better supervision at the prison after warning authorities that he was a suicide risk.

Richard Crouch, governor of Preston Prison, said Mr Ratcliffe, who was also a diabetic, was located in the hospital prison wing when he arrived seven weeks ago, but was moved at his own request.

He said: "Mr Ratcliffe's death came as a great surprise to us and everything that could have been done to ensure his general well-being was being done. He was given a job as a wing cleaner, which requires a great deal of trust and he was not a prisoner who was banged up all day.

"We were aware of the concerns expressed by his solicitor and took them fully into account.

"He was given a lot of support and maximum contact with other prisoners and was not ignored in any way."

Accrington-born Mr Ratcliffe, also a former wagon driver for Walkersteel and a care assistant at Calderstones, moved from Blackburn to a caravan in Middleton, near Heysham, with his second wife, Vivien, some months ago.

He was charged with her attempted murder in July after she was attacked with an axe and a craft knife.

He made his last court appearance on September 3 when he was remanded in custody to await trial at Preston Crown Court.

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