LINCOLN PRISON

Inmates staged an eight-hour riot at Lincoln Prison in October 2002 and caused £1m damage. How were they punished? They were given hand-held TVs because they 'spent too much time locked in their cells' and are now complaining the TV's are too small. Sex offenders want up to £10,000 each in compensation claiming they were traumatised by riots at their prison.

Forty five inmates have won legal aid to sue the Home Office for stress and hope for out-of-court deals. But prison officers are angry about the legal action which could cost taxpayers about £1million. One said, "The trauma many of these people caused their victims goes completely unrecognised while they want large amounts of cash. It's sick." Fifty warders are considering making their own claims for stress. A prison source said, "They are certainly more entitled to compensation than any sex offender, who they protected."

The prisoners were trapped in their cells for up to two hours when other inmates attacked a warder, took his keys and went on the rampage. They said they feared for their lives when razor blades were pushed under their doors in the vulnerable prisoners' unit during the eight-hour riot. Others said they were attacked. One inmate died and there was £3million of damage. It was the most serious incident since the Strangeways prison riot in Manchester in 1990. Then seven prisoners negotiated deals of up to £7,000 each. The Home Office is now looking at the Lincoln claims. (Source: Daily Mirror)