TWO prisoners caught with a mobile phone charging behind a television in their cell have been handed prison sentences but not will spend any more time in jail.

Ryan Taylor, 24, and Daniel New, 29, were both inmates at HMP Bullingdon when prison guards raided their cell on the afternoon of June 8 last year.

After searching the room a small Zanco mobile phone was discovered plugged with a USB into a socket hidden behind a television.

Analysis of the phone showed that contacts had been used matching that of the contacts list provided by the two men before they were checked into the prison near Bicester.

Each went on to admit a single count of possession without lawful authority inside a prison a prohibited item before Oxford Magistrates at a hearing on January 27.

Oxford Crown Court heard at their sentencing hearing on Tuesday how one of the men - Taylor, was only using the phone to contact his partner, who was nearly nine months pregnant at the time.

He is currently serving an eight-year jail term for drugs offences and was on remand for those offences at the time of the incident.

New, meanwhile, is currently awaiting a parole hearing in a bid to be released into the community back on licence and the court heard this week that any hearing would only be possible after jail terms for the mobile phone in prison were served.

During mitigation at the hearing, defence teams representing the men also argued that there was no evidence of any continuation of criminal activity linked to the use of the phones and the contacts were entirely of a personal nature.

Sentencing Judge Zoe Smith said that in light of the lengthy jail term for Taylor and the 'special situation' for New the jail terms ordered would be concurrent with their existing sentences.

Both men were handed a four-month jail term, concurrent with their original sentences and must pay a victim surcharge.