PRISONERS almost started a “mini riot” over an anal search, a district judge was told.

Inmates David Ian Hodgson and Charles Tams were at the centre of a “free for all” involving several prison officers at Durham’s HMP Frankland Prison last August.

Trouserless Tams kicked out at officers while Hodgson “rained blows” upon prison officer Gary Mackinnon, who had been helping conduct an anal search of his cellmate.

The brawl began after Tams was strip-searched during a hunt for contraband and was asked to squat when an officer thought he saw something hanging from his bum.

A struggle ensued as the 34-year-old burglar reached between his own legs before officers tried to restrain him.

The matter escalated swiftly when Hodgson – who had already been searched – burst back into the cell to come to the aid of his half-naked pal.

The cell’s panic button was deployed as Hodgson attacked Mr Mackinnon, “hitting him around the head and knocking him off items in the cell.”

A female officer described the brawl as a “free for all”, and called Tams and Hodgson’s size and strength “unbelievable”.

During a hearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court, District Judge Martin Walker said it was only the availability of officers that prevented the incident from spiralling into a “mini-riot”.

Amy Hossack, representing Hodgson, said the pair felt they had been unfairly targeted by officers, having been made subject to a number of fruitless searches in previous weeks.

She said Hodgson felt he had to intervene after seeing the officer reach towards Tams’ bum.

In searches conducted after the fight had finished, nothing was found on either of the men or in the cell.

Two officers suffered minor injuries in the attack, and while Hodgson admitted that he pulled the officer away from Mackinnon, he denies the claim that he rained blows upon him.

Tams – of Darnell Place, Newcastle - was fined £110 for obstructing a prison officer and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge while Hodgson – now of HMP Hull - was handed a five-week prison sentence, to be served concurrently with his current sentence.

District Judge Walker said: “I note the injuries received by the officer were relatively minor but have to take into account that this was a prison officer in the execution of his duty ...this is not a million miles away from a mini riot within a closed establishment.”