AN inquiry is under way at Whitemoor Prison, March, into how a convicted rapist managed to hang himself. Patrick Purcell, 40, was serving a life sentence at the prison but had been placed in a special wing reserved for those with a serious personality dis

AN inquiry is under way at Whitemoor Prison, March, into how a convicted rapist managed to hang himself.

Patrick Purcell, 40, was serving a life sentence at the prison but had been placed in a special wing reserved for those with a serious personality disorder and he was being kept on a 24-hour-a-day suicide watch.

However, he was moved to a segregation cell, where he was found hanged on Saturday afternoon.

Staff attempted to resuscitate him and paramedics also attended the prison but he was announced dead shortly afterwards.

A Prison Service spokesman said that "every death in custody is a tragedy and our sympathies are with the family and friends of Mr Purcell at this time."

Purcell was convicted of rape and sentenced to life at Kingston Crown Court in 1998.