A CIRENCESTER man accused of trying to kill his partner by repeatedly stabbing her on Christmas Eve is believed to have committed suicide in prison.

Lee Farrell's body was discovered by officers in his Bristol Prison cell yesterday morning.

Mr Farrell, 29, of Apsley road, last appeared at Gloucester Crown Court via video link from prison on January 18, charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm to Stacey White.

But at that hearing the prosecution said it would be bringing a charge of attempted murder - based on the fact that Mr Farrell had updated his Facebook page to describe himself as a 'widower' before the stabbing.

Mr Farrell was on remand in custody pending then next hearing of the case on April 12th.

But HMP Bristol has confirmed that Mr Farrell was found unresponsive in his cell by staff on Monday, February 4 and attempts to resuscitate him failed. He was pronounced dead at 6.51am.

"As with all deaths in custody the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation," the spokesman said.

Gloucester Crown Court is now awaiting a formal death certificate before holding a hearing to close the file on the case.

Stacey White, who is in her 20s, was stabbed in the abdomen, thigh and arm during an alleged ‘domestic row’ at Mr Farrell’s home just before 11pm on Christmas Eve.

She was taken to hospital by ambulance to Swindon's Great Western Hospital with multiple injuries, although they were not believed to be life-threatening.