A number of coronavirus cases at a prison near Bicester resulted in cases having to be adjourned on Monday.

The Oxford Mail understands that three inmates have tested positive for Covid-19 at HMP Bullingdon.

The wing has been put on lockdown, with the prison service unable to bring a number of men to court on Monday morning.

Among the cases affected by the outbreak was the sentencing of 21-year-old Michael Manazis, who was caught with a ‘Rambo knife’ and flick knife at Banbury railway station in August – two months after he got a suspended sentence for drug dealing.

Judge Tom Rochford, who had been due to hear the case at Oxford Crown Court, put the matter back to October 4.

A prison service spokeswoman said precautionary measures had been taken at HMP Bullingdon and the situation was being closely monitored.

“Our priority is to limit the spread of the virus and protect the lives of those who live and work in our prisons,” she said.

A category B and C prison, Bullingdon had 1,070 inmates at the end of June 2021, the latest date for which figures are available.

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