A prisoner has died while serving a jail term at HMP Winchester, the Chronicle can reveal.

Craig Steadman, 32, died at the prison on Sunday, February 27 - the same day as an outbreak of disorder was reported at the facility.

According to a report from the BBC, staff had to hide in the prison's chapel after losing control of the exercise yard.

A Prison Service spokesperson denied that any staff had been injured or that they had retreated to safety, adding that an incident was resolved "swiftly".

READ MORE: Outbreak of disorder at Winchester Prison

Steadman's death is not thought to be linked to the disturbance.

His family released doves outside the prison's gate late last month, while floral tributes were also laid. A friend of his described their loss as "terrible".

SEE ALSO: Winchester Jail still too violent say watchdogs

An inquest has been opened into Steadman's death, with the next hearing provisionally listed for November 17.

A spokesperson for The Ministry of Justice has said it would not be able to comment on the cause of his death – or anything "which may or may not have led up to it" – until the inquest is completed.

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