A PRISON inmate was left with a fractured eye socket after a row over a nicotine capsule exploded into violence, a court heard.

During the alleged fight at HMP Bullingdon prosecutors claim that the victim was repeatedly punched and had to be taken to hospital.

Two fellow inmates - Dean Baker, 20, and Tristan Longworth, 29, both deny one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

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Their trial at Oxford Crown Court got under way today.

Outlining the case Alisdair Smith, prosecuting, told jurors that the violence took place at the prison near Bicester on the morning of April 17 last year.

He told jurors that there had been a 'debt over a nicotine capsule' which left the two men 'not happy' with their alleged victim.

On the morning of the attack, he told jurors, the men 'smashed' their victim's head against the bars of a gate.

The alleged victim went to the witness box to tell jurors what he claimed happened to him.

He said that there had been 'problems' between him and his eventual attackers in the build up to the incident.

He told the jury: "The problems with them was going on for quite a while so I knew something would happen but I didn't know when it would happen."

The man said he had been lent the nicotine capsule by Baker and he had agreed to 'pay double back.'

He explained he was to pay two capsules back along with £1.50 for the canteen.

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He went on: "A couple of days later he started 'where's this, where's that' 'why are you not giving me', this sort of stuff."

Detailing the morning of the attack he said he left his cell and they spoke briefly to him before he headed towards the 'medication lounge.'

It was when he got to a gate, he said, that the two men launched the attack.

He told jurors he was punched repeatedly in the face by both of the men.

The man said the attack lasted 'about three to five minutes' and he was later taken to hospital, where it was found he had suffered a fractured eye socket.

The jury also heard that after the incident was reported to the police the two men were interviewed.

Baker denied the assault in a statement and answered no questions about it, it was said.

The court heard that Longworth also denied taking part in the assault.

Mr Smith, prosecuting, told jurors: "The issue in the case appears to be who was responsible.

"The most important question in the case is are you sure it was these two men who were responsible."

The two men deny the single count against them and the trial continues.