The family of a man whose malnutrition-related death led to a Norfolk coroner demanding answers from the prison service over apparently altered records of his care have welcomed her intervention.

Norwich prison inmate Mohammed Azizi, 32, who had Crohn's Disease, died in May last year after he refused food, saying it was making him unwell.

Norwich Evening News: Mohammed Azizi, known as MoMohammed Azizi, known as Mo (Image: Azizi family)

But his inquest heard evidence from two officers at Norwich Prison, who said a document about Mr Azizi's care - submitted by the prison service as evidence - had not been signed by them, even though it appeared to contain their signatures.

Norfolk Coroner's Court also heard another officer had been asked to add notes to the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) plan - produced for prisoners identified as being at risk of suicide or self-harm - after it was supposed to have been completed.

Area coroner Samantha Goward said, in the case of Mr Azizi, who had been jailed for arson, suicide and self-harm had not, ultimately, been factors in his death.

But she said was concerned about what had happened with those documents, given how important they could be in other cases.

Norwich Evening News: Norwich PrisonNorwich Prison (Image: Denise Bradley)

Lawyers for the prison service said it was a "one-off" occurrence and not a "systemic problem", but Mrs Goward said she had not received an adequate explanation.

She will submit a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the governor of Norwich Prison, Her Majesty's Prisons and Probations Service.

Norwich Evening News: Mohammed Azizi's inquest was held at Norfolk Coroner's CourtMohammed Azizi's inquest was held at Norfolk Coroner's Court (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Azizi's family, whose legal team Shrdha Kapoor and David Story, had raised their concerns over his treatment, said: "Mohammed was a much-loved member of our family, he was kind and generous to all his friends and family.

"He always tried to bring fun and joy to our lives. We miss him dearly and we will always keep his memory alive.

“We were shocked to hear about the use of a recreated prison document that related to Mo, and how this was handled by the prison and not disclosed to the court.

"We are pleased the coroner decided to write a Prevention of Future Deaths report and that investigations will take place into how and why this happened, to ensure other families do not experience this in future."

The inquest jury concluded Mr Azizi died of cardiac atrophy, linked to malnutrition, Crohn’s disease and self-neglect.