A POLICE officer lied to his colleagues – telling them he had checked on prisoners in custody – the night a man was found hanged in his cell.

Pc David Stoll told colleagues he had looked in on Craig Boyd in his cell at 2am and 3am on March 16, 2004, an inquest has heard. But an investigation into Mr Boyd's death, led by Greater Manchester Police, discovered he had not done the necessary hourly assessments.

Mr Boyd was discovered by a custody officer hanging by a red shoelace at 4am.

During an inquest into his death, Dr Robert Hunter, Coroner for Derby and South Derbyshire, told the hearing that Pc Stoll was convicted of misconduct in a public office following the death.

Dr Hunter said: "He lied about doing the checks, in that he told his fellow officers about the checks being done, leading them to believe they had been.

"That is why Pc Stoll was prosecuted. The other officers relied on his evidence in good faith."

Giving evidence at the inquest, Detective Sergeant Martin Roche, of Greater Manchester Police, said he and a fellow officer questioned Pc Stoll for more than four hours in relation to Mr Boyd's death, and to each question he answered "no comment" on legal advice.

The inquest previously heard how Mr Boyd, 32, had been on the run from police and was wanted for three offences, including wounding with intent and assault. On the night of his arrest police were tipped off that Mr Boyd was at the home of a former partner, in Kenilworth Avenue, Normanton.

When officers searched the property they found him hiding under a duvet in a bunk-bed.

He was arrested and taken to St Mary's Wharf police station.

The court heard how he was searched and placed in a cell.

Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act he should have been checked every hour by staff.

The inquest, held at Pride Park Stadium, has also been told how Mr Boyd had twice previously taken an overdose of tablets.

Giving evidence yesterday, Pc Nigel Rogers, one of the custody sergeants on duty the night Mr Boyd died, said he made a mistake in ticking a box saying he asked Mr Boyd if he had ever tried to take his own life.

Asked by Dr Hunter if he had knowingly made a false declaration on the form, Pc Rogers said: "No, I did not make a false declaration.

"I did not realise until later I had not asked the question.

"It was a genuine mistake."

Sergeant Steven Judge, who arrested Mr Boyd, told the court yesterday how the father-of-one was compliant when he gave himself up to officers.

Sgt Judge said: "Craig was a model prisoner."

The inquest continues.