A TATTOOIST who was accused of mugging a man and trying to rob a woman in Devizes has died in prison.

Aaron Osborne was remanded in custody in April after he failed to turn up for a hearing at Swindon Crown Court.

The 31-year-old, who had recently split from his partner, was found dead in his cell at Bristol prison the following day.

After a copy of the death certificate was produced by prosecutors at Swinson crown court this week, Judge Tim Mousley QC formally ended the case.

Osborne had pleaded not guilty to the alleged offences, on consecutive days at the end of February last year.

He was said to have robbed a man of £40 on February 27, 2016, and the following day tried to rob woman of her mobile phone.

When Osborne, who worked for a tattoo parlour in Coleford, Gloucestershire, failed to turn up for a hearing in April a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

He was brought before a judge a few days later, claiming he could not afford the fare to get to Swindon after breaking up with his partner.

Mike Pulsford, defending, said following the spilt he had been left without any cash to make the journey.

Osborne was remanded in custody to July 11 when he was due to stand trial.

But the following day he was found dead at Bristol prison.