RIOTING prisoners pelted prison officers with pool balls after one was not allowed to use the gym, a court was told yesterday.

Sixty prisoners ware involved in the disturbance at Holme House jail, Stockton, in which two officers ware injured.

It was sparked off when Shane Taylor, 22, was not allowed to exercise in the gym because it was full, said Jamie Hill, prosecuting.

Taylor went back to his call and banged on the door shouting obscenities at officer Colin Brown.

Later, he unleashed his anger on Mr Brown by pelting officers with pool balls, it was claimed.

Taylor was also alleged to have injured Mr Brown and another officer, Alan Colledge, with a broken coffee jar, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Taylor, of Cumings Square, Wingate, County Durham, pleads not guilty to wounding Mr Brown with intent to do him grievous bodily harm on July 18 last year, and actual bodily harm assault on Mr Colledge.

He and Robert Foley, 23, of Church Street, Seaham, County Durham, and Dean Temple, also 23, of Midlothian Road, Hartlepool, also deny a charge of violent disorder.

The case continues.