A judge warned that rioting would not be tolerated in the nation's jails after sentencing five inmates to a total of 23 years for prison mutiny.

The men, including two serving life sentences, were sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for their part in £900,000 worth of destruction at Full Sutton Prison, near York, more than two years ago. Double murderer Gary Griffin, 28, murderer Raymond Kennedy, 24, and fellow inmate Mark Hargreaves, 26, were sentenced to five years.

Inmates Michael Guest, 29, and Paul Lyons, 31, were sentenced to four-and-a-half years and four years respectively.

Judge Peter Heppel said: "Once inside, public policy requires inmates obey the rules, and in cases of prison mutiny the courts will not hesitate to impose appropriate sentences."

Griffin, Kennedy and Hargreaves were convicted after a trial which finished last week. All were taken to Newcastle Crown Court, amid security and armed police, to be sentenced.

During the trail of Guest and Lyons, in which six other defendants were acquitted, the court heard how prison officers were forced to withdraw from two wings of the prison, and that fire crews called to the jail were bombarded by inmates.

The riot happened after it was discovered some inmates were being moved to another block. Order was only restored more than 12 hours later.

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