The wife of an engineer in jail for making guns for criminals died shortly after he was found dead in his prison cell, a jury inquest heard on Monday.

Father of three Mark Kinman, 63, was a self-employed precision engineer before he was arrested for firearms offences and told staff he feared his co-defendants had put a "price on his head", the hearing was told.

Assistant Coroner for Surrey Caroline Topping said his sister had submitted a statement on behalf of the family after Mr Kinman's wife, Patricia, passed away shortly after his death at HMP Highdown near Banstead on October 17 last year.

She told Woking Coroner's Court: "She is the single point of contact for the family and very unfortunately as is referred to in the statement, Mrs Patricia Kinman, Mark Kinman's wife, died shortly after he did."

His sister Beverley Kinman said in a statement: "I'm the sister of the late Mark Kinman. He was married to Patricia Kinman.

"Mark was a self employed as a precision engineer.

"I'm aware that Mark was arrested by the police in 2018. In October 2018 he was found deceased in his cell from what appeared to be an episode of self harm.

"A short time after his death his wife Patricia passed away."

The inquest heard Mr Kinman had a history of depression and had been prescribed anti-depressants in the past.

The hearing continues.