A PRISON strike caused a robbery trial to grind to a halt and sparked other delays at Worcester Crown Court.

Robbery suspect Daniel Martin was not produced because of the national industrial action which meant the trial could not continue yesterday and the jury’s deliberations had to be broken off until Monday. Daniel Martin and Tommy Lee Jauncey deny two robberies in Warndon, Worcester. Other prisoners were also not produced because of the strikes. In a single court in Worcester (court three) prisoners were not produced from HMP Leeds, HMP Hewell and HMP Birmingham. Other matters not involving prisoners, including an appeal, were able to proceed.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright told the jury: “I’m sorry you’re late to court. The reason for the delay is that a problem has arisen. Daniel Martin has not been produced because of the industrial action taken by prison officers that you may have heard about on the news this morning. He’s entitled to be here for his trial and when any verdicts are returned so we simply cannot proceed today with the trial."

The Prison Officers Association (POA) trade union said its general secretary Steve Gillan had called for all members in England and Wales prisons to take protest action outside their workplaces from 7am yesterday until instructed otherwise in response to a report on Thursday by Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke who raised the alarm over the potential for a "complete breakdown" in order and discipline at HMP Bedford. The POA has hit out at levels of violence against prison officers, overcrowding and safety issues in the prison system.

The strike has been called unlawful by the prisons minister.