THE family of a 19-year-old man found hanging dead in his prison cell believe he had been the victim of bullying.

Christopher Johnson was discovered at HMP Brinston, near Wolverhampton on the evening of Friday, March 23. Although staff tried to resuscitate him he was pronounced dead at 8.29pm.

Mr Johnston was awaiting sentence for burglary and driving offences. His father, also named Chris, believes his son had been bullied at the young offenders institute and wants a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

"We know during his first week he had some trouble from some of the people in there, but he told us he had been moved and everything seemed to be a lot better," he said. "He was looking forward to getting out and getting on with his life."

Mr Johnson's girlfriend Lisa Martin said he was a doting father who was looking forward to coming home to his eight-week-old daughter Kaydee, and his other children Harley and Leila, .

"I spoke to him every day he was in there, and we just had no idea this was coming," she said. "He was an absolutely fantastic dad. He may only have been 19 but he knew where his priorities were."

Before his death Mr Johnson had sent a letter to his mother Maxine and a birthday card to Miss Martin, who he was planning to marry.

"A letter arrived the morning after he died and there was nothing to suggest anything like this was going to happen," said Mrs Johnson. "He had a lot of friends and was well loved. We are all devastated and I just wish he was still here with us."

The family are now awaiting the results of an investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

"We just cannot come to terms with this, Chris had everything to live for and we cannot believe that he would take his own life," said Mrs Johnson. "We want to know what happened so that we can accept it and start to look forward."

A spokesman for the Prison Service said: "Every death in custody is a tragedy, and our sympathies are with the family and friends of Mr Johnson at this time."

Mr Johnson also leaves behind two sisters, Sarah and Nikki, and brother Aaron.