A psychiatric nurse warned prison staff an inmate was a suicide risk the day before he was found dead in his cell, an inquest heard.

Robert Vowles, of Grand Avenue, Hove, was discovered hanging by a noose made from sheets at Lewes Prison.

The 37-year-old had been due in court on a murder charge the day after his death on May 1 last year. He had been on remand at Lewes since his arrest and first appearance at Brighton Magistrates Court on April 21.

The inquest, held at Lewes Magistrates Court yesterday, heard there was concern about Mr Vowles' mental state and he was placed on an at-risk register but taken off before being found dead in the prison's health care centre.

The inquest was told Mr Vowles had a history of depression, anxiety and panic attacks and had admitted making several attempts on his life.

When he was sent to Lewes prison on remand, he was placed in the health care centre because of the gravity of the charge he faced, his previous mental health history and his inmate medical record, which stated he admitted wanting to kill or harm himself.

Community psychiatric nurse Martin Corfe, of the court assessment and diversion scheme, interviewed the inmate on April 30.

He told the inquest: "He expressed a clear intention to end his own life."

Before Mr Corfe left the prison that day, he held a verbal 'handover' of his assessments to a member of staff working in the health care centre before writing up full reports the next day.

He was clear he had told the member of staff of Mr Vowles' mental state.

He told the inquest: "There was a lack of trained nurses for the health care centre and the member of staff I spoke to was the only trained nurse and the situation was very pressurised."

The inquest heard on the night Mr Vowles was found dead, there were two staff looking after more than 20 inmates in the health care centre. One of the two staff was called on to constantly observe one inmate, leaving the other to observe the rest, including Mr Vowles.

The hearing continues.