The treatment by prison staff of a vulnerable prisoner who committed suicide in his cell was described as “inhumane” and “degrading” by campaigners.

Iraqi-born remand prisoner Mohammed Mudhir, 25, hanged himself in his cell on a segregation unit at Leeds Prison, Armley, in August 2005, after being treated “worse than a dog” by staff.

Prison officers and medical staff ignored “clear warning signs” that Mr Mudhir’s mental health had deteriorated significantly in the days before his death, a lawyer for his family said.

Despite CCTV footage showing him drinking water from the toilet, praying continuously and repeatedly pacing his cell, the room’s door was opened just once in an 18-hour period of isolation, when a prison officer spoke to him for less than two minutes.

After a six-week inquest, a jury at Leeds Coroners Court concluded on Wednesday that Mr Mudhir was significantly failed by the prison during his time in custody, as a result of poor communication between staff, inadequate mental health assessments and lack of training.

Deborah Coles, co-director of charity Inquest said: “This man, who quite clearly had very, very serious mental health deterioration in the days leading up to his death, was kept in the most inhumane and degrading circumstances, in segregation.

”It is absolutely shocking that such severe deterioration didn’t result in action being taken to protect his right to life. It is damning that in 2009 you can look at a case such as this, where a jury found such a catalogue of failings.”

The jury’s narrative verdict said there was a “culture of complacency” at the prison, shown through “inconsistent completion of paperwork, failure to communicate clearly their expectations, and lack of procedures to regularly monitor the level of service provided by the prison and healthcare staff”.

Mr Mudhir’s brother, Musab Mudhir, said a governor of the prison had admitted Mr Mudhir was treated worse than a dog.

”We have waited three and a half years to find out what happened to my brother,” he said.

”The evidence that we have heard over the last six weeks has been shocking. We are appalled that prison officers should have treated Mohammed with no respect, decency or common humanity.

”Despite the fact that Mohammed was seen drinking out of the toilet, nobody spoke to him, provided him with a drink, inquired of his welfare or sought medical assistance.

”One governor said he would not have treated a dog in the way my brother was treated.”

Mr Mudhir had been held on remand in June 2005 when he failed to attend court over an assault allegation after flying to the Middle East to visit family.

He was initially described as a model prisoner, but the jury heard there was a severe deterioration in his mental health in the five days before his death, on 21 August 2005.

The symptoms of mental illness and signs of self harm he began to exhibit, including being impervious to pain and drinking water from the toilet, were captured on CCTV.

Kate Maynard, solicitor for Mr Mudhir’s family, said: “The CCTV film enabled us to see exactly how appallingly Mohammed was treated by prison and medical staff in the segregation unit.

”Staff relied on vulnerable prisoners to self report any problems, failing to see for themselves the clear warning signs that Mohammed’s mental health was deteriorating.

”If staff had bothered to engage with Mohammed, conduct their observations properly, or communicate with each other about what they had seen, Mohammed’s death may have been avoided.”

A Prison Service spokesman said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy, and our sympathies are with Mr Mudhir’s family.

”All deaths in prison affect families, staff and other prisoners. NOMS (National Offenders Management Service), ministers and the Ministry of Justice are committed to reducing the number of such tragic incidents.

”Learning from deaths in custody is a key strand of the prisoner suicide prevention strategy. A number of significant improvements have been made at the prison and evidence of these was presented at the inquest.”

He added that in her last inspection of the prison, Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons, had described the facilities at HMP Leeds as “much improved”.

The treatment by prison staff of a vulnerable prisoner who committed suicide in his cell was today described as “inhumane” and “degrading” by campaigners.

Iraqi-born remand prisoner Mohammed Mudhir, 25, hanged himself in his cell on a segregation unit at Leeds Prison, Armley, in August 2005, after being treated “worse than a dog” by staff.

Prison officers and medical staff ignored “clear warning signs” that Mr Mudhir’s mental health had deteriorated significantly in the days before his death, a lawyer for his family said.

Despite CCTV footage showing him drinking water from the toilet, praying continuously and repeatedly pacing his cell, the room’s door was opened just once in an 18-hour period of isolation, when a prison officer spoke to him for less than two minutes.

After a six-week inquest, a jury at Leeds Coroners Court concluded on Wednesday that Mr Mudhir was significantly failed by the prison during his time in custody, as a result of poor communication between staff, inadequate mental health assessments and lack of training.

Deborah Coles, co-director of charity Inquest said: “This man, who quite clearly had very, very serious mental health deterioration in the days leading up to his death, was kept in the most inhumane and degrading circumstances, in segregation.

”It is absolutely shocking that such severe deterioration didn’t result in action being taken to protect his right to life. It is damning that in 2009 you can look at a case such as this, where a jury found such a catalogue of failings.”

The jury’s narrative verdict said there was a “culture of complacency” at the prison, shown through “inconsistent completion of paperwork, failure to communicate clearly their expectations, and lack of procedures to regularly monitor the level of service provided by the prison and healthcare staff”.

Mr Mudhir’s brother, Musab Mudhir, said a governor of the prison had admitted Mr Mudhir was treated worse than a dog.

”We have waited three and a half years to find out what happened to my brother,” he said.

”The evidence that we have heard over the last six weeks has been shocking. We are appalled that prison officers should have treated Mohammed with no respect, decency or common humanity.

”Despite the fact that Mohammed was seen drinking out of the toilet, nobody spoke to him, provided him with a drink, inquired of his welfare or sought medical assistance.

”One governor said he would not have treated a dog in the way my brother was treated.”

Mr Mudhir had been held on remand in June 2005 when he failed to attend court over an assault allegation after flying to the Middle East to visit family.

He was initially described as a model prisoner, but the jury heard there was a severe deterioration in his mental health in the five days before his death, on 21 August 2005.

The symptoms of mental illness and signs of self harm he began to exhibit, including being impervious to pain and drinking water from the toilet, were captured on CCTV.

Kate Maynard, solicitor for Mr Mudhir’s family, said: “The CCTV film enabled us to see exactly how appallingly Mohammed was treated by prison and medical staff in the segregation unit.

”Staff relied on vulnerable prisoners to self report any problems, failing to see for themselves the clear warning signs that Mohammed’s mental health was deteriorating.

”If staff had bothered to engage with Mohammed, conduct their observations properly, or communicate with each other about what they had seen, Mohammed’s death may have been avoided.”

A Prison Service spokesman said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy, and our sympathies are with Mr Mudhir’s family.

”All deaths in prison affect families, staff and other prisoners. NOMS (National Offenders Management Service), ministers and the Ministry of Justice are committed to reducing the number of such tragic incidents.

”Learning from deaths in custody is a key strand of the prisoner suicide prevention strategy. A number of significant improvements have been made at the prison and evidence of these was presented at the inquest.”

He added that in her last inspection of the prison, Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons, had described the facilities at HMP Leeds as “much improved”.

By Celia Paul