Otis Ferry to spend Christmas in jail

Otis Ferry (pictured), the hunting-obsessed son of rock star Bryan Ferry, looks likely to remain in prison for more than five months while he awaits a trial date for allegedly perverting the course of justice. As reported on The First Post last week, Ferry, 25, was charged with trying to nobble a prosecution witness who was due to give evidence against him in a robbery case – he is alleged to have telephoned David Hodgkiss, a groomsman, and "instructed him not to provide the police with certain evidence in relation to an allegation of robbery". On a separate occasion, he is accused of threatening to "discredit Hodgkiss as a disgruntled employee".

Ferry junior's trial on the robbery charges was suspended last week when the new charges were made against him. A day later he was arrested by the police, and he arrived at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday in handcuffs (it is not known at which prison he is being held). Judge Martin Picton informed Ferry that he will stand trial on the two perversion of justice charges. Ferry is yet to formally enter pleas, but prosecutor Jo Harris told the court that the charges are to be contested.

Worse for Ferry, the judge said it's likely the original charges and the two new allegations of perverting the course of justice will be tried together on March 9 because of the backlog of cases, which means he will spend his birthday and Christmas in chokey.