AN HMP Bullingdon prisoner who was caught with a mobile phone in his cell has been handed a suspended jail term.

Luis Thompson appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

The 19-year-old had admitted one count of without authority possessing inside a prison a prohibited item.

READ ALSO: Oxford school tells girls they can't miss class because of their periods.

Outlining the case prosecutors said that prison officers at the prison near Bicester went to Thompson's cell sometime after midnight on March 12 this year.

Inside, a mobile phone was discovered and on investigating the device it was found that there had been communications between Thompson and his family and friends.

There were a number of text messages exchanged as well as calls related to names on a pre-approved contacts list.

In mitigation it was said that the mobile phone was not used for any other illegal activity.

The court also heard that since his release from prison earlier this year he had 'started to turn over a new leaf and change his life.'

Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said: "Possession of mobile phones in prison causes an awful lot of problems.

"They can be used to communicate with persons outside without anybody having any checks.

"They can be used for the commission of offences, they can be used as currency in the prison and as a result they can cause problems with regard to violence in prison."

Thompson was handed an eight month jail term, suspended for 18 months.

He must also pay statutory victim surcharge.