A JURY has been dismissed after being unable to reach a decision in a trial where a prisoner was accused of possessing a mobile phone in a cell.

Lennox Barnes, 21, was on trial at Oxford Crown Court with the case starting on Friday (July 19).

He was charged with one count of possessing a mobile phone while in HMP Bullingdon, near Bicester.

It is alleged that on January 17 last year, he and his cellmate were caught with a ‘Zanto Ant’ mobile phone.

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However, Barnes has denied the offence – stating it only belonged to his cellmate Armands Burkevics, 22, who has pleaded guilty to the offence.

On Monday (July 22), Judge Ian Pringle dismissed the jury after they were unable to reach a decision.

A re-trial has been set for March 25 next year.

Barnes refused to attend any of the court hearings and the jury was told about his refusal.

Judge Pringle explained the trial would go ahead in his absence.

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His co-defendant, Burkevics, will be sentenced earlier so he does not need to wait for the re-trial.

During the trial, it was heard that calls were allegedly made from the phone to Barnes’ brother.

“The Crown would say that the numbers and calls to the defendant’s brother were made by the defendant,” said the prosecution.