AN INQUEST has opened into the death of a man jailed for three counts of rape, as well as a string of other offences.

Winchester Coroner’s Court heard 55-year-old Nigel Coomber, of Weston Lane, Southampton, died at Southampton General Hospital on March 15 after being admitted from Winchester Prison two days earlier.

Senior coroner Grahame Short said he had been transferred to hospital “after being found in his cell”.

Home office forensic pathologist Dr Basil Purdue said in a report to the coroner the preliminary cause of death was “delayed effects” of hanging.

No other details were given during the short hearing on Wednesday before senior coroner adjourned the case for a preliminary hearing on September 10.

The death comes after Coomber was jailed for 12 years and six months at Salisbury Crown Court in December.

He had been due to stand trial in Southampton last August before the case was move to the Wiltshire court.

However, before Coomber could stand trial he pleaded guilty to a total of nine crimes: three counts of rape, three of assault by penetration, one of false imprisonment, on of making a threat to kill and one of attempting to choke or suffocate with intent.

As well as being jailed, Coomber was made subject to a sex offenders requirement order that would last indefinitely.

A date for the inquest into Coomber’s death is likely to be set at the preliminary hearing later this year.