WINCHESTER had the highest regional figure for deaths in custody in 2015, according to new Ministry of Justice data.

There were seven deaths with four suicides at the Romsey Road jail, report the campaigning charity Howard League for Penal Reform.

The League said the numbers were “alarmingly high.”

Only Woodhill Prison had more suicides than Winchester.

Several of the Winchester deaths have still to have inquests heard, including Fathers 4 Justice campaigner Haydn Burton.

Across the region 18 people took their own lives in prisons in the South East last year with 45 deaths in total.

That means Winchester has 15 per cent of the deaths when it is one of 21 jails.