Ferry wants political prisoner status

Moves are afoot to give political prisoner status to hunting-mad activist Otis Ferry (pictured), who has been on remand in Gloucester Prison since September for allegedly perverting the course of justice.

Ferry's constituency MP, the Conservative Daniel Kawczynski, believes that the Crown Prosection Service's refusal to grant him bail is a punishment for Ferry and his hunting chums' previous escapades, which included an invasion of the House of Commons.

"I have received a letter from Otis Ferry in prison and I am absolutely convinced he is being kept as a political prisoner," said Kawczynski. "I am concerned that they are putting political pressure on the CPS to keep him in prison. I am in the process of going to Gloucester Prison and I am going to be speaking to him. I have also been on the phone to the governor of the prison and I am writing to the head of the CPS."

As reported here, Ferry, 25, the son of rock star Bryan Ferry, was charged with trying to nobble a prosecution witness who was due to give evidence against him in a robbery case.

As a result of this, Ferry has been been held in the slammer since September and because of a huge backlog of cases a trial date does not seem likely until next year. This means the poor lad will spend his birthday as well as Christmas behind bars.