A prisoner who was jailed after attacking an Asian man with an axe in Hounslow has died after being found hanging in his cell.

Vincent Eggleston, 34, was sentenced to eight years in jail last December after a jury found him guilty of attacking Sohail Nawaz at the Earl Haig pub, in Bath Road, Hounslow.

Mr Nawaz, was left scarred for life after Mr Eggleston hit him on the head with the axe in the pub garden on April 11 last year, before carrying on attacking the victim with the blunt side of the axe.

Mr Eggleston, of Great West Road, had been serving time at Wellingborough prison in Northamptonshire when he was found dead in his cell last week.

A Prison Service spokesman said an investigation would now be carried out into Mr Eggleston’s death.

"HMP Wellingborough prisoner Vincent Eggleston was found hanging in his cell at 2.55pm on April 9,” the spokesman said.

“Staff and paramedics attempted to resuscitate him but sadly he was pronounced dead at 4.40pm.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr Eggleston.

“As with all deaths in custody, the prisons and probation ombudsman will conduct an investigation."

During the four-day trial at Isleworth Crown Court last November, Mr Eggleston denied wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, affray threatening violence, having an axe as an offensive weapon in a public place and common assault.

The former British Airways engineer told the court he did not know where the axe had come from and that he was acting in self-defence.

However, the jury found him guilty on all charges.

Following the trial Mr Nawaz said he forgave his attacker as the incident had ruined both their lives.

Mr Eggleston is the third Northamptonshire prisoner to have been found dead in custody this month.