Prisoners who 'held guard hostage' are charged with false imprisonment

Staff outside Full Sutton prison in York where three serving prisoners, Feroz Khan, Fuad Awale and David Watson have been charged with falsely imprisoning an officer (PA)

Three prisoners have been charged with false imprisonment after allegedly holding a guard against his will following an investigation by counter-terror police.

Feroz Khan, 26, Fuad Awale, 25, and David Watson, 26, were all inmates at HMP Full Sutton in East Yorkshire when it is claimed they held the guard hostage on 26 May.

Khan and Awale are also accused of threatening to kill the officer, and Khan is charged with grievous bodily harm on the guard, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on a second officer.

All three men appeared before Westminster Court via video link from three separate prisons. The case has now been transferred to the Old Bailey where the next hearing will take place on 27 September.

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Following an investigation by the police's north east counter terrorism unit, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges against three men currently detained in prison.

“It is alleged that on May 26 2013 Feroz Khan, Fuad Awale and David Watson, all of whom were at that time prisoners at HMP Full Sutton, unlawfully imprisoned a prison officer and detained him against his will. They will be jointly charged with one count of false imprisonment, contrary to common law.

“A number of demands were made during the incident which resulted in the case being handled by counter-terrorism officers and specialist prosecutors.”

Additional reporting by PA