Lag accused staff of racism when he was not moved to another jail

A masked prisoner brandished a sharpened toilet brush and claimed staff were racist because they would not move him to a jail he prefered, a court heard.

Kazi Islam, 26, climbed a wall demanding to be moved from HMP Rochester wearing a mask he had fashioned in his cell, Southwark crown court heard.

Feryal Ertan, prosecuting, said: ‘On 24 May last year, Mr Islam was a prisoner at HMP Rochester.

‘Between approximately 9:30am and 10am Mr Islam walked out of an open door and into an outdoor communal area in the prison.

‘He was challenged by an officer but he ignored the officer.

‘Mr Islam is seen holding a toilet brush that had been sharpened at one end.’

Wearing his homemade mask, Islam scaled an 8ft high wall.

‘He made several demands, including a demand that he be moved to a prison that is not racist,’ said Mr Ertan.

‘He said he was ready for war.

‘At approximately 11:30am Mr Islam dismounted that wall and was detained by prison officers.’

Islam told police he ‘participated in the protest because it was his only option as the prison was racist and that they had ignored a request to move him to a prison in London.’

‘He accepted that he would have used the weapon it to defend himself.

‘He claimed he would not have caused any injury past minor injuries.’

Islam, who is orginally from Newham, east London, denies one count of possessing an offensive weapon in a prison.

The trial continues.

ends