A BULLINGDON inmate caught with a phone in prison after making 253 calls from his cell has been given more time inside.

HMP Bullingdon prisoner Luke Soffe appeared for sentencing via videolink at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday.

The 26-year old had already admitted one count of without lawful authority possessing inside a prison a mobile telephone.

Outlining the case prosecutors said that on November 10 a prison guard spotted Soffe acting suspiciously in his cell.

He was seen to put something down his trousers, the court heard, and he was duly searched.

Guards found that he had a Zanco mobile phone together with a working Vodafone SIM card and he later admitted having the banned item while in prison.

Analysis of the phone revealed that Soffe had made the hundreds of phone calls to his partner, his father and a friend, all contacts which had been pre-agreed with the prison.

The court went on to hear that as a result of the phone being found by prison guards Soffe was subject to a violent attack by another inmate.

He appeared via videolink wearing a sling, which he said was a result of that retribution.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said: "You have seen for yourself the problems that telephones cause in custody.

"You I am told received the injury to your hand [...] as a direct consequence of this phone being found in your possession.

"Consequently it is a very clear example of the corrosive and dangerous effect that these have on the good order and discipline of our prisons."

Soffe was handed an eight-month jail term for the offence to be served consecutive to his existing term, and he must pay a victim surcharge.