A PAIR of inmates who went on a five hour rampage at Erlestoke Prison last summer have had at least two years added to their sentences.

Adam Taylor, 25, and Greg Coombes, 27, got on to the roof at morning call in protest at being incarcerated miles from home.

They smashed skylights, sending glass showering on to landings below, pulled down aerials and even broke into the governor's office to get a drink.

But when the national team arrived to break up their disturbance they quickly gave up as the 'tooled up' prison officers in riot gear hurled thunder flashes at them.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the incident took place at the Category C prison on the morning of Monday, June 6, last year.

She said the men, both serving four-year sentences, got on to the roof at about 8am and were up there until about 1pm when the national team arrived.

The pair went on to the roof of every wing smashing the skylights causing prisoners below to be kept in their cells for their own safety.

Others who had been outside were kept in the chapel to avoid roof tiles which they were hurling to the ground.

As a result of the disturbance Miss Squire said visits had to be cancelled, while education, courses and exercise also had to be called off.

And as it was still going on at lunchtime other inmates did not get fed as they were not able to move about because of the falling glass.

"Everything that would normally happen at HMP Erlestoke on a day could not take place," she said.

The court heard that almost £30,000 worth of damage was caused during the disturbance and 130 prisoners affected, as well as staff and visitors

Taylor and Coombes pleaded guilty to affray and criminal damage.

Sam Trefgarne, for Taylor, said that his client, who is now in HMP Hull, was frustrated at not being able to get a transfer to a jail nearer home.Although he was convicted of drugs offences in Devon he said he is from the Liverpool area and had been trying to get moved north for more than six months.

Since the incident he said he had knuckled down and was now a peer mentor and listener to other inmates in his new prison.

Although there was a great deal of damage he pointed out that no one was hurt during the disturbance.

Ed Hetherington, for Coombes, said his client had declined to attend the hearing as he was in Exeter prison and didn't want to lose his place there under protection.

He said he too was frustrated at being held too far away for visitors to come and see him and pointed out they seemed intent on smashing things up, not harming anyone.

Passing sentence Judge Robert Pawson said: "The total cost of repairs was estimated at a little over £27,000.

"Money which, I not in passing, the prison services and public services can ill afford in the current climate,

"No doubt prisoners being placed far from home causes distress to prisoners but the prison service, like all public services, operates under severe financial restraint."

He jailed Taylor for two years and Coombes for two years and four months which will be consecutive to their current sentences.

Detective Constable Kev Golledge said: “The despicable actions of these two prisoners placed a huge drain on resources at the prison while other offenders were becoming volatile towards staff in other areas of the prison, due to the regime being halted for a number of hours.

“The men continued on their rampage until 1.10pm – nearly five hours later - having caused approximately £30,000 worth of damage.

“This behaviour is totally unacceptable and I would like to make it clear that, as in this case the prison service will work with the police to ensure that prisoners who behave in this way will be punished.

“As a result of their actions, these two men will now spend a significantly longer time behind bars.”