AN inmate seen on CCTV throwing a snooker ball in the direction of wing officers claimed he wanted to ring his mum during a prison mutiny.

Richard Shanahan, who denies prison mutiny in Long Lartin, gave evidence from the witness box at Worcester Crown Court today (Monday).

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CCTV footage showed Shanahan holding a cue rest in one hand and a snooker ball in the other as prison officers retreated at the category A prison in South Littleton, near Evesham.

Moments later Shanahan, facing the camera, could be seen throwing a ball in the direction of officers. Footage also showed him putting tape over prison cameras.

The prosecution case is that some inmates were protesting against a smoking ban during the disorder which included a fire set in an office. In total the mutiny was said to have caused £50,000 of damage and incurred almost as much again in costs after specialist officers (the Tornado Team) were rushed in to quell the violence.

Richard Shanahan, 30, Paul Mapps, 34, and Richard Taylor, 27, deny mutiny at the prison on October 11, 2017.

Stefan Kolodynski, prosecuting, cross-examined Shanahan about the violence in the prison's Echo Wing which housed 86 prisoners.

Shanahan said he had been throwing the ball in the 'general direction' of officers, not at the officers. He accepted he had been 'reckless' and added: "It was a silly thing to do."

The defendant, who called his actions 'juvenile', was asked why he had not locked himself in his cell if he was worried and he answered: "I didn't want to be in my cell."

Asked why not, he said 'everyone else was out'. He said he had put pool balls in a pillowcase to stop other prisoners using them as weapons.

Mr Kolodynski asked Shanahan why he was on the prison netting. "I don't really know" he said, "just messing about."

Shanahan also confessed he was 'angry' and 'frustrated' because he believed property had been taken from him. Asked what his intention was in relation to the snooker cue he had picked up, he replied: "I don't know - play snooker?"

He was asked what he had been discussing with his co-defendants and he said he could not remember. "Try" pressed Mr Kolodynski.

Shanahan answered: "It could have been anything - just general banter."

He denied there was 'a plan' to take control of the prison or that he had any power over '80 odd prisoners'. He said he had not seen any of the snooker balls shatter.

"Why did you pull the telephone landline out?" said Mr Kolodynski.

Shanahan told the jury he was 'trying to use the phone'. Asked who he was trying to ring he said: "I wanted to speak to my mum innit."

Mr Kolodynski asked Shanahan what he intended to say, 'hi mum, just about to have a game of pool and, for some reason, I tried to throw snooker balls and threaten wing staff - how has you day been?'

The trial continues.