An inmate on remand for attempted murder in Bullingdon Prison, near Bicester, bled to death after slashing his wrist with a razor blade, an inquest heard.

Gary Bolton, 34, who had a personality disorder, was found by prison staff lying on his bed in his cell in the healthcare unit with two plastic bags over his head. Staff had heard a gurgling noise just after 3am on December 29 last year.

He died soon afterwards despite efforts by staff and paramedics to resuscitate him, the Oxford inquest heard yesterday.

The car parts salesman, who was born in Farnham, Surrey, but was an Australian citizen, had been remanded by Windsor magistrates on December 8 accused of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, unlawful imprisonment and indecent assault.

Magistrates heard that he entered a woman's house at Eton Wick, Berkshire, armed with a knife, syringes, poison, plastic ties and adhesive. Police were called after the woman, in her 30s, was taken to hospital with serious knife wounds. Armed officers sealed off the area before battering down the door and Mr Bolton was taken to hospital on a stretcher.

Consultant pathologist Dr Nicolas Mahy, of the Horton Hospital, Banbury, told the inquest that Mr Bolton died from loss of blood.

Mr Bolton, who was in prison for his first time, was waiting for a space in a wing for vulnerable prisoners.

Bullingdon medical officer Dr Stewart Mitchell said Mr Bolton was put in the healthcare unit when he arrived at the prison because he had taken an overdose on December 3. Officers looked in on him every 15 minutes.

He was transferred to B wing but was attacked by another inmate and returned to the healthcare unit. Dr Mitchell said: "He started talking about his alleged offence and because of unwritten prison rules among inmates he was immediately assaulted by his cell mate." Principal officer Anthony Price said he could have got the razor blade from B wing.

The inquest jury returned a verdict that Mr Bolton took his own life.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.