THE former head of security at HMP Bullingdon has given evidence in the trial of four prison officers accused of covering up an assault.

The defendants are all charged with being involved in a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice following an incident at the prison near Bicester on February 4 last year.

Michael Stooks from Tingewick, Buckinghamshire, also faces two counts of assaulting Jamie Cassell, who was then a serving prisoner.

Nigel Daley, prosecuting, said the attacks led to a “whitewash” by Stooks and three more junior prison guards.

He said they were Martin Egerton, 25, of Lower Heyford, Mark Reed, 45, of Bicester, and Nicholas McGregor, 38, of Witney.

The officers falsified the mandatory “use of force” logs to remove the name of a guard, Stephen McCallum, who objected to his supervisor’s behaviour, the barrister said.

Yesterday then-security manager Teresa Blasford gave evidence in Oxford Crown Court and described speaking to Mr McCallum about what happened.

She said: “He told me he explained his concern (about the alleged assault) to Senior Officer Stooks and he was told if that is what he was going to report, don’t report anything at all.”

The prosecution alleges that Reed then filled out a log instead of his reluctant colleague to make it look like he was present instead.

The four men deny all the charges against them.

The trial continues.