Drug taking, bullying and the vulnerability of prisoners with indeterminate jail sentences are being discussed as part of an inquest into the death of Daniel Smith in his cell at Erlestoke Prison more than three years ago.

Mr Smith, 25, who was single and originally from Brighton, was found hanging in Cell 44 of Wessex unit at Erlestoke Prison in the early hours of February 4 2010. Despite prison staff administering CPR, Mr Smith was declared dead at the scene by an ambulance paramedic.

Wiltshire coroner David Ridley is holding the two-week inquest at the county coroner’s court in Salisbury with a jury of six women and four men.

The prison’s deputy governor, Paul Wiltshire, explained to the inquest that Mr Smith was serving an indeterminate public protection (IPP) sentence, which means he had no particular date of release and would only be allowed out of prison when the parole board considering he no longer constituted a danger to the public.

The offence Mr Smith was serving the sentence for was not mentioned at the inquest.

Mr Wiltshire told Mr Ridley that, had he not been on an IPP sentence, his “tariff” would have been 18 months, which means he would normally be considered for release after 12 months in jail.

Mr Wiltshire said that, at the time of Mr Smith’s death, there were more than 400 prisoners in Erlestoke, 30 to 40 of whom were on indeterminate sentences.

He said that IPP prisoners could convince the parole board they no longer posed a threat to the public by completing courses in which Erlestoke Prison specialises But he agreed that the large number of IPP prisoners puts a strain on the education programmes at the prison and there are waiting lists for the courses.

Prison officer Linda Smith said that Mr Smith (no relation) had become frustrated at the delay in being put on a course.

She said that when Mr Smith arrived at the prison on August 8 2008, he was put in the induction unit at Wren unit. She said he was very quiet and avoided eye contact.

In February 2009, Mr Smith was moved to Sarum unit after earning enhancement points for good behaviour.

But he was sent back to Wren in May 2009 where he was put on an anti-bullying programme as a victim.

Another prison officer, David Reed, said that there was some concern Mr Smith was taking drugs because of the prisoners he was associating with, although the drug tests he underwent showed negative results.

The inquest continues.