Woman dies less than a week after being remanded in jail

A mother-of-two has been found dead in Cornton Vale prison less than a week after being remanded by a sheriff in relation to an assault charge.

The body of Tammi Bruce was found in the jail at the weekend. An investigaton has been launched into her death.

Bruce, 38, was remanded after a private hearing held in unusual circumstances at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday last week. A petition alleged she had assaulted Gordon McArthur with a baseball bat, but Bruce was not brought into one of the public courtrooms because she suffers from the skin condition impetigo.

The case was heard in a cell with the sheriff and staff remaining outside the door.