A court was in 'lockdown' for several hours yesterday after a bust-up in the cells between a defendant and security staff.

Several people were said to have been taken to hospital after the man, who was due to be sentenced, was caught with what a judge later described as 'contraband'.

Police are investigating reports that the man, who was appearing from prison, may have been armed with a weapon.

All hearings at Maidstone Crown Court were delayed as the cells, and later the building in Barker Road itself, was put in lockdown.

Judges were only able to hear cases where defendants were on bail, and only if they agreed to proceed without a dock officer present.

It is believed that four officers were injured and needed hospital treatment. The defendant was subsequently returned to prison without his sentencing hearing going ahead.

Judge David Griffiths-Jones QC, resident judge at the crown and county court building, later apologised for the disruption.

He said: "There has been some unrest downstairs, a disturbance which required a lockdown."

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