TWO violent prisoners locked a female Group 4 security officer in a cell and escaped, a court heard yesterday.

Margaret Featherstone cried for help and frantically banged the prison door beneath the court house at Harrogate, North Yorks, to raise the alarm.

But, York Crown Court was told, it took five minutes for other prison officers on duty in the magistrates court above to hear her pleas. By then, Elliott Porritt, of Duke Street, Bolton and Paul Lyons, of Cleveland, had fled.

Prosecutor Colin Burns said Group 4 prison officer Featherstone was alone in the cell area beneath the court when Porrit, 21, rang the buzzer to request a drink of water. He seized Officer Featherstone by the wrist when she opened the door a few inches. Lyons, 28, and Porritt then dragged her into the cell and took the keys.

Porritt was caught 10 minutes later, but Lyons got a taxi which was stopped in Stockton on Tees.

Both men admitted escaping from custody and falsely imprisoning Margaret Featherstone.

Lyons also admitted wounding his wife with intent to do grievous bodily harm after biting off her ear.

Porritt pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and to carrying rice flails as an offensive weapon.

Lyons was jailed for five and a half years and Porritt got four and a half years.

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