Cannibal cop killer Stefano Brizzi, who strangled Greenhithe police officer Gordon Semple before cooking and trying to eat him, was found hanged in his cell just a month after being taken off suicide watch, an inquest has heard.

Italian national Brizzi, 50, died at Belmarsh high-security jail in Woolwich, on February 5.

Brizzi was convicted of murdering 59-year-old Gordon Semple in November last year.

During the trial the court heard how Brizzi, 50, was inspired by the TV series Breaking Bad as he tried to get away with the murder by dissolving the police officer's body with acid.

PC Semple, who lived with his partner Gary Meeks in Dartford, met Brizzi through gay dating app Grindr.

Brizzi, who was HIV-positive, was for a time on a programme for prisoners considered at risk which provided a care plan and monitored mental health issues, a pre-inquest review hearing at Southwark Coroner's Court was told.

The crystal meth addict was taken off the programme on December 28 and several days later on January 4 "suicide watch ceased", senior coroner Dr Andrew Harris said.

A noose and a letter "indicating he was thinking about death" had been found in a cell he occupied on his own, the hearing was told.

The noose was said to have been discovered on December 6 while he was still on suicide watch.

It was unclear whether the letter was found on December 10 or was dated December 10 and discovered later, the court heard.

A date of April 23 next year was given for the opening of the inquest, which will have a jury.

Dr Harris said: "It is important to understand the way that risk was assessed at the time.

"Given the nature of his crime we need to understand...whether he was assessed as a violent prisoner.

"It may relate to the fact he was in a single cell and whether he had been exposed to risk by other prisoners."

Brizzi, a statanist, strangled Gordon Semple, during a bondage sex session and then cooked and tried to eat him.

The former Morgan Stanley IT developer met his victim at his flat near London's Tate Modern gallery on April 1.

The Breaking Bad fan admitted being inspired by the TV series as he tried to get away with killing the Inverness-born officer by dissolving his body in an acid bath.

He was arrested after neighbours complained of a foul stench coming from his flat.

Brizzi, a former web developer for Morgan Stanley, had denied murder.

Brizzi claimed PC Semple died accidentally when the lead around his neck slipped.

He was convicted of murder at the Old Bailey and jailed for life with a minimum of 24 years.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing a coroner by dismembering the body, which he received a seven-year sentence for, to run concurrently.