Men in court over violence at Addiewell prison riot

Published on Friday 30 July 2010 12:38

ELEVEN men have appeared in court accused of taking part in a riot at the privately-run Addiewell jail in West Lothian.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of another man who was released from jail on Monday and failed to turn up at yesterday's hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

One prison officer is said to have been seriously injured during an incident in the prison's Lomond Wing last October 11.

The 12 prisoners and ex-prisoners face a charge alleging they formed part of a mob of evilly-disposed persons conducting itself in a violent, riotous and tumultuous manner to the terror and alarm of prison staff.

The incident is said to have been sparked by attempts to take John Jenkins, 22, to the jail's segregation unit. He is accused of inciting other prisoners to help him.

The charge alleges that the mob then armed themselves with brushes and pelted prison officers with pool balls, bricks and bits of broken furniture.

A total of 16 staff are said to have been assaulted - one to his severe injury.

Judge Lord Matthews heard from lawyers about preparations for a possible trial and then decided to fix a further preliminary hearing for September 10.