A man accused of raping two women — including a woman aged 80 — hanged himself in Bullingdon Prison before the case could be heard.

Yesterday, an inquest jury heard how 31-year-old Zimbabwean Hilary Sanyika, formerly of Cave Street, St Clement's, Oxford, used his shoelaces to hang himself in his cell while awaiting trial.

The jury at the Oxford hearing took less than 30 minutes to conclude the prisoner took his own life.

The inquest heard the inmate was thought to be frustrated by the length of time his case was taking to come to trial.

He was also described by fellow prisoners as being upset at his former girlfriend stopping their young son from visiting him in jail.

Sanyika had been in prison for ten months at Bullingdon Prison in Bicester following his arrest on suspicion of two vicious sex attacks in 2005.

The rapes, in the Oxford area, were alleged to have been carried out on a pensioner and 33-year-old woman.

The OAP was allegedly raped in her own home.

Sanyika was charged with raping her, attempting to rape her, sexual assault, and trespassing at her home with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was also accused of the rape of the 33-year-old woman in Oxford and causing grievous bodily harm with the intent to wound her.