Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jump to content
Sign up to our newsletters
Independent
More
Best
Climate
TV

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Inmates took over prison, jury told

Thursday 19 January 2012 20:00 EST

Masked and armed prisoners took control of an open prison within half an hour of turning on staff, a court heard yesterday.

The mutiny at Ford prison, West Sussex, in the early hours of New Year's Day 2011 saw inmates running amok, looting, smashing and torching buildings and property, a jury at Hove Crown Court was told.

The jury heard that by the time the authorities were back in control of the prison 12 hours later, more than £5m of damage had been caused.

Seven men deny a charge of prison mutiny. One of the defendants, Thomas Regan, has admitted violent disorder and another, Lee Roberts, has pleaded guilty to arson. The trial continues.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in