The Prison Service has admitted that its investigation into the death of an 18-year-old inmate and the subsequent inquest did not comply with the European convention on human rights.

The admission, which followed a two-year battle for justice by the teenager's mother, is believed to be the first such case in this country since the Human Rights Act became law in October 2000.
Colin Williamson was found hanging in his cell at Portland young offenders' institution in Dorset on June 3 2001, less than a week after being taken off the prison's suicide risk regime.