THREE men have been convicted of taking part in a prison mutiny at Blakenhurst Prison.

A riot broke out at the jail near Redditch on June 19 last year after it was decided to lock inmates in their cells early due to staff shortages.

The jury at Worcester Crown Court convicted the ringleader Stuart Benson, aged 22, of Charles Crescent, Folkestone, in his absence.

Judge Andrew Geddes issued a warrant for his arrest at the start of the nine-day trial but he is still on the run.

Also convicted were Dominic Cummins, 31, of Kingsway, Stourbridge, and 28-year-old Nicholas Mason, of Powell Street, Wolverhampton.

They were given bail while pre-sentence reports are prepared.

The jury heard how table tennis and pool tables were used as barricades and some prisoners donned disguises during a violent protest.

Prosecutor Stephen Thomas said the spark was the reduction of free association time and complaints over prison food.

During the five-hour riot on A-spur in houseblock 3, pool balls were hurled at officers, fire bells were activated and fixtures and fittings destroyed. Damage totalling £1,500 was caused.

Benson wore a hood, armed himself with a broken pool cue and jumped down onto suicide nets.

The trouble ended about 10pm after an elite group of prison officers called the Tornado Squad were called in with dogs.

Cummins did not give evidence and Mason claimed he was wrongly identified.

Four other men pleaded guilty before the trial began. The seven defendants will be sentenced later this month.