ONE of Britain's oldest convicted cannabis growers died in prison during a row with one of the governors over food, an inquest heard.

Albert Axton, 71, from South Gorley in the New Forest, suffered from heart disease.

He was an inmate of the West Hill section of Winchester prison and at the time of his death, on Wednesday, January 24, was attending a meeting of wing representatives and prison staff to discuss prisoners' issues.

It was at this meeting that Mr Axton raised the subject of prison food with governor Martin Harris and as the discussion went on Mr Axton became more agitated.

Witnesses said that Mr Axton suddenly stopped talking and slumped to his right and it was obvious something was seriously wrong from the way Mr Axton was breathing.

The room was cleared, but attempts by prison staff and paramedics to resuscitate Mr Axton were unsuccessful.

In September 2006, Mr Axton was sentenced to 18 months in prison after a jury convicted him of cultivating and conspiracy to supply cannabis. The judge at the time said a three-year sentence would have been appropriate but he was taking into account the defendant's poor health and previous good character.

The inquest in Winchester heard that Mr Axton had a series of health problems. He had had a double heart bypass and had bad arthritis in his right ankle.

Because of his health problems he was situated in a ground floor cell at West Hill.

Dr Adnan Al-Badri, consultant pathologist at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, carried out the post mortem examination on Mr Axton.

Dr Al-Badri said that Mr Axton was obese and as a result had an enlarged heart, there was also evidence of previous heart attacks he said.

Dr Al-Badri also said that despite Mr Axton having a double heart bypass, the arteries that had been replaced had once again become blocked.

"If someone is stressed it is likely to exacerbate his heart condition. From what I heard Mr Axton became excited and the state of his heart was really very poor and he could have died at any time, for example from exercise, but getting stressed exacerbated his condition," said Dr Al-Badri, who said in his opinion cause of death was due to heart disease.

The inquest jury returned a verdict of death by natural causes.