Allegations after Moreton man misses court four times

Jason Stratford, of Camden Close, Barton on Heath, Moreton in Marsh, has missed four court appearances at Gloucester Crown Court because he allegedly refused to travel.

Simon Kitchen, defending burglar Jason Stratford at Gloucester Crown Court, said on Tuesday (January 9)  that warders at Bristol Prison are 'routinely lying' about the reasons for inmates not being transported to court for case hearings.

The court was told the 39-year-old had refused to get on the bus to be driven to court - but Mr Kitchen says this is not true.

Judge Rupert Lowe has now asked the Bristol Prison bosses to respond to Mr Kitchen's allegations.

Judge Lowe told the barrister: "I have asked the Prison for further details about who spoke to him and so on.

"The allegation you are making is a very serious one.

"You are saying that the prison staff, with or without the endorsement of some level of management, are routinely lying to the court about why they are not producing prisoners and are blaming the prisoners for refusing to travel when they are, in fact, willing to come."

Stratford had admitted five offences of non-dwelling burglary in and around the Cirencester area, including of St John's Baptist Church, where he stole money on April 9 last year.

He has also admitted two offences of assault and charges of possessing cocaine and heroin as well as breaching a community order.

Mr Kitchen said: "Within the prison service, it is happening so frequently - not just to this defendant but with other defendants.

"They say they have never refused to come to court and they don't know what the prison is talking about. 

"I cannot put blame on any particular individual - I just don't know what is going on in the prison."

The judge said he would have to adjourn the case to find out the truth of Stratford's claims, and he ordered that he definitely be produced at court by the prison authorities on January 18.

The judge reserved the case to himself.