The death of an inmate's pet hamster sparked a prison riot which caused more than £12,000 damage.

Four prisoners took part in the "protest", trashing their landing, smashing furniture and light fittings inside HMP Stocken.

All the men said they had grievances, but Kyle Blackie claimed he was "distressed" over the death of his rodent.

The drama went on for four hours before specially trained officers were sent in to restore order.

Leicester Crown Court was told the four men climbed onto the "suicide netting" between two floors at the jail near Oakham, Rutland.

Two of the inmates, Craig Mercer, 26, and Shane Green, 25, remained there for four hours before they were finally brought down.

They were angry after having their cells searched, when they claimed treasured photographs were damage. Blackie, 23, was upset about his pet hamster passing away.

Gordon Aspden, prosecuting, said the trio and another man Anthony Bailey, 32, climbed onto the netting shortly before 6pm on April 14 last year.

He said: "They took a mattress, chairs, food, tobacco and bizarrely a Monopoly game - which showed they were planning to spend some time up there."

He added: "Bailey said he wanted 'out,' and Blackie was distressed about losing a pet hamster a few days earlier."