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A mentally-ill dad was found hanged in a prison cell after being allegedly bullied by his inmates.

Jamal Hussein, 32, ended up behind bars at HMP Manchester after being charged with assault in 2016.

His brothers and sisters said they found he had been "badly beaten" when they visited him at the prison.

Jamal then told them he had been attacked by fellow inmates.

“There were bruises all over his face,” his sister said.

“He had been badly beaten. He was very upset and very low. We were very concerned.

“We started asking ‘how did this happen’. We were so upset.”

Somali-born Jamal was assaulted on either August 30 or 31, 2016, after prison guards found contraband in his cell, his family said.

They believe the father-of-one, from Hulme, who was a Muslim, had been pressured into keeping contraband alcohol, known as hooch, in his cell for other prisoners.

Lawyers acting for the family said the 32-year-old had refused to report the assault to officers, Manchester Evening News reports.

His family said on Friday September 2, 2016 they received a call from a prison staff member to assure them that Jamal was okay.

(Image: Manchester Evening News WS)

Around two hours later, they said they were told he had been rushed to hospital.

Prison officials say they were informed by the family that Jamal was being bullied only "15 minutes before" he was found hanging in his cell.

He fell into a coma and was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he died 11 days later.

An inquest into his death last week found he died as a result of misadventure.

Jamal's family said he had planned to visit his wife and 10-year-old daughter in Somalia before he was jailed.

His sister said Jamal's daughter has suffered the most after his death.

“It’s really been very awful for his daughter,” she said.

“He was planning to visit her. She just can’t believe that she’s lost her dad.

“One day she is waiting to see him and the next thing she’s told her dad is not going to make it.”

Jamal had ambitions to work in the construction industry and was hoping to move his wife and daughter to Manchester.

A keen footballer, he had previously done volunteer work, but suffered with his mental health, his sister said.

“He was a very kind person, very friendly and well known in Hulme and Moss Side,” she said.

“He made friends very easily.

“He was a very lovely person and smiley. He was helpful at home and if someone was sick he would always be there to support them. We feel really empty at home without him.”

Jamal appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on August 15, 2016.

Prosecutors alleged he used a paving stone to break down a front window of his father’s home on Criccieth Street, Moss Side, at 3.30am on Tuesday, July 12.

He was said to have used a broom handle to hit his father on the arm, wrist, back and head.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment for cuts, bruises and swelling.

Jamal was remanded into custody at HMP Manchester in July 2016.

A Prison and Probation Ombudsman report, published this week, found that there were a number of "missed opportunities" to help Jamal following the alleged assault.

He had a history of self-harm, by cutting, but a community psychiatric nurse (CPN) who assessed did not identify any immediate concerns or an increase in his risk.

The report states that prison officers found "two containers of homemade alcohol" in Jamal's cell on August 28 and he also handed over an "improvised bladed weapon".

Jamal denied the items were his but refused to tell guards who they belonged to, the PPO report states.

"He did not tell staff he was being bullied," it adds.

"However, on September 1, a prisoner told an officer that another prisoner had assaulted Mr Hussein because staff had discovered the contraband items in his cell.

"The officer did not speak to Mr Hussein, or record this information in prison records."

He later told a community support worker he had been "punched" but did not give more details.

(Image: MEN Media)

Ombudsman Nigel Newcomen CBE found that "staff failed to give sufficient weight to Mr Hussein’s level of risk when he arrived at Manchester on July 14 and, in the circumstances, we believe staff should have fully considered starting ACCT procedures."

"While Mr Hussein gave no direct indication to staff or other prisoners that he had thoughts of suicide or self-harm, staff were too reliant on his presentation in making an assessment," the report added.

He added that Jamal "did not receive the support from staff he could have expected" as he was never allocated a personal officer and there were several "missed opportunities" to help him following the alleged assault.

Mr Newcomen reports: "His family raised their concerns about bullying through various channels.

"Another prisoner made an officer aware that Mr Hussein had been bullied the day before he was discovered hanged in his cell.

"On the day Mr Hussein was found, the officer spoke to him and despite seeing a bruise on his face did not investigate further or begin violence reduction measures.

"The CPN also spoke to Mr Hussein a few hours before he was discovered and, although he told her that somebody had punched him in the face, she did not inform prison staff."

Family members say they had begged for Jamal to be moved out of the prison, commonly referred to as Strangeways.

In a statement released after the inquest they said: “As a family we still miss him dearly and we still grieve for his loss.

“However, his young daughter is most impacted by his death as she is very far away from the rest of the family.”

Their solicitor Kelly Darlington, of Farley’s, described Jamal as "vulnerable" and said he was struggling with his mental health.

“It is nearly three years since Jamal's death and the family fought at every stage of the inquest process to find out the answers to the many questions they had surrounding Jamal’s death," she added.

"It is hoped that now the inquest has concluded, they can grieve for him properly.”

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is investigating the case and a report into Jamal’s death is expected to be published soon.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: “It is a tragedy whenever anyone takes their own life in prison and our thoughts remain with Jamal’s family.

“The coroner found the prison was not negligent in its care but also recognised that, nonetheless, there have been significant improvements to how vulnerable prisoners are supported at HMP Manchester in the three years since Jamal’s death.”

If you need to speak to someone, Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org