A CHRISTMAS Day confrontation between two prison inmates has left both facing a potential extension to their time behind bars if convicted of charges arising from the incident.

Paul Oliver, 23, will now join 21-year-old Sharif Kalimba on trial over the outbreak of violence at Durham Prison, on December 25, last year.

Prison staff intervened to bring the clash to a halt, but both are now facing allegations stemming from the incident, including each being accused of being in possession of improvised weapons.

Appearing at Durham Crown Court, via video link from Hewell Prison, in Worcestershire, where he is now serving a prison sentence, Oliver, from Stockton, denied possessing an unauthorised weapon, namely a razor blade moulded onto a plastic fork, and affray.

Amrit Jandoo, mitigating, said the defendant claims he was acting in self-defence and a prison officer must have been mistaken if the believed Oliver was carrying the weapon.

The hearing was adjourned for a trial on a date to be fixed at Sheffield Crown Court, where Kalimba’s case has already been sent, as he faces further allegations of assault and unauthorised possession of a weapon.