A PRISONER caught with a lethal 'shank' in his jail cell has appeared at court.

Convicted criminal Josh Chamberlain is already serving a four-year jail term for burglary.

The 21-year-old of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of having an offensive weapon - a homemade shank - while inside prison.

He appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced for the single offence.

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Outlining the case prosecutor Julian Lynch said prison officers at HMP Bullingdon were carrying out cell searches on November 28 last year.

At about 7.15pm they entered Chamberlain's cell, which was shared by another inmate.

He was sat on the bottom bunk when officers approached and he was seen to 'make a movement as if to hide something in his bed.'

On further investigation he was found to have on him a 'shank knife type weapon.'

He later admitted having the banned item before his sentencing hearing.

The court heard that Chamberlain has 14 previous crimes to his name and is now serving a four-year jail term for burglary and driving offences.

Representing himself at court he said he had been asked to hold the weapon by somebody else.

He said he had previously been beaten up and he took the blade to stop that happening again.

Presiding Judge Maria Lamb adjourned the case so that further investigation as to Chamberlain's circumstances can be carried out.

He will appear again for sentencing on Friday.