Three get extra jail time for mutiny which caused £180,000 damage at HMP Featherstone
Three prisoners have seen their jail terms extended – after they were sentenced for taking part in a mutiny at a prison near Wolverhampton.
The disorder at HMP Featherstone in August 2017 lasted for seven hours and around £180,000 worth of damage was caused.
Stafford Crown Court heard that the three men involved – Jamie Biddle, Darren Hart and Carl Baker – were all serving prisoners when they took part in the incident on August 29, 2017.
The court heard that Biddle started throwing pool balls from the third floor of House 5 at HMP Featherstone down at prison officers located on the ground floor. One ball smashed through the staff window – just missing prison officers inside.
Hart was seen taking pool balls up to Biddle. The officers were quickly taken off the house unit for their own safety.
The court was told that Biddle and Hart were witnessed on CCTV causing serious damage to House 5, by throwing furniture and other items – and also smashing alarms and CCTV cameras. It was said that the prisoners had completely taken over the wing of the prison.
A fire was also started on the unit and the compliant prisoners had to try to extinguish it themselves.
Barricaded
The prison mutiny warning was read out to the prisoners several times through a loudhailer. After many hours of disorder they barricaded themselves into a cell on the third floor with Baker.
Biddle, 30, and Hart, 51, pleaded guilty on January 18 to the charge of participating in a prison mutiny. Baker, 43, pleaded guilty in a hearing on January 27.
At Stafford Crown Court on Monday, Biddle was sentenced to four years in prison, while Hart was sentenced to three years and four months, and Baker to two years and four months.
Prisons and Probation Minister Alex Chalk MP said: “This kind of behaviour will never be tolerated.
"The safety of our staff and prisoners is our priority and we will continue to work closely with the police to push for the strongest possible punishment for anyone jeopardising this – including more time behind bars.”
Aimi Hanlon, of Staffordshire Police, added: “Thankfully no one was seriously hurt, but a lot of damage was caused and the incident continued for some time due to the violence and threat used by these men.
“They now have to serve extended sentences due to their actions.”
The total cost of damage to the house unit from the incident was £179,088.44.
