A Colchester man who was found hanged in his prison cell the day before he was due to be sentenced for rape committed suicide, an inquest has found.

Paul Gigg, of Chinook, Highwoods, had worn an Incredible Hulk onesie when he attacked a 19-year-old woman at a music event in Great Yarmouth.

The 30-year-old was pronounced dead by paramedics after being found with a ligature around his neck in Norwich prison on January 27 last year.

The jury at Gigg’s inquest heard written evidence from fellow prisoners - one of whom said Gigg had been “concerned and anxious” about being a convicted rapist and the effect that would have on his children”.

Gigg had been charged with two counts of rape which happened at the Vauxhall Holiday Park in Acle New Road on October 20 2012, during the three-day Kiss Weekender event.

Gigg, a chef, pleaded guilty at court in December 2012. He was due to be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on January 28, 2013.

It heard evidence an alarm was raised after prison staff got “no response” from Gigg’s cell during morning roll call at about 5.15am on January 27 2013.

When they entered the cell Gigg was found with a ligature around his neck.

Although staff tried to resuscitate Gigg he was pronounced dead at 5.53am.

A post mortem examination was carried out and cause of death was given as hanging.

The inquest heard evidence about Gigg’s mental state during his time in prison.

His overall picture was described by a nurse at the prison as “downward”.

However, she referred to a visit with Gigg in December 2012 as being “more positive”.

Written evidence from one of Gigg’s fellow inmates said he was “down” following his court appearance on December 21 2012 when he pleaded guilty.

He described Gigg as being “emotional” after a visit from his family on January 15, 2013, although added he had never talked about taking his own life.

Another prisoner said Gigg had a “difficult” phone conversation with his family after making his plea.

The two-day inquest also heard evidence from another prisoner that Gigg had talked about “knowing how he would take his own life if he wanted to” and mentioned “hanging”.

He described how the day before his death Gigg spent “a lot of time in his cell on his own” although there had been no mention of him feeling down or self harming.

The inquest jury returned a finding of suicide.

Assistant Norfolk Coroner David Osborne offered his sincere condolences to the family who lost a loved one in “difficult” and “tragic” circumstances.