A Colombian double murderer incarcerated at High Down Prison may have been killed by a gang of inmates, an inquest has heard.

Christian Gomez-Remolina was being held at the Sutton prison “for immigration and criminal offences”.

The 26-year-old was found hanging from a window in his cell on June 14 last year.

But the inquest, held at Woking Coroner’s Court on Monday, heard that Gomez-Remolina survived an attack in his cell by up to six inmates just two days before his death.

On June 11, prison guards heard shouting coming from his cell and arrived to find several “angry” inmates inside with the Colombian.

Emma Quail, a prison officer, said: “Five or six prisoners came out of his cell. One of them was extremely angry. I tried to calm him down but his fists were clenched.”

There were no serious injuries but coroner Dr Karen Johnson said a “sharp weapon” was recovered from the cell after the fight.

Most prison staff described Gomez-Remolina as the “model prisoner” and a “nice guy” but admitted he had been bullied by other inmates.

Guards were aware that he had been targetted and attempted to monitor this by using a ‘bully book’ to ascertain who was bullying who.

David Stead, night manager, said: “In any prison, bullying does happen. We are aware it goes on and try to prevent.”

But on the evening of June 13, Miss Quail was doing her routine checks on prisoners in her block when she walked past Gomez-Remolina’s cell.

Miss Quail said: “It was dark and I saw him sitting still facing the cell window. I kept walking but I decided to go back. When I looked at him again he was a bluey-grey colour.

“I opened his cell, called the alarm and cut him down.”

Dr Richard Chapman, a Home Office pathologist, told the court that hanging was the underlying cause of death.

He said: “The hanging caused him to go into cardiac arrest which resulted in his brain being damaged.”

The inquest also heard from another prison employee Mark Cleeter that because of its proximity to Croydon there were “lots of gangs” in High Down.

Dr Johnson said: “A death while in the custody of the state must have the closest of scrutiny.”

The inquest is expected to conclude Thursday.