A NEW governor and deputy will be parachuted in to run Lewes Prison after it was put into special measures.

Jim Bourke and his second-in-command Tony Williams will move on to jobs at the prison service's headquarters to make way for a new leadership team as a result of the findings.

The National Offender Management Service, which is accountable for how prisons are run, recommended Lewes is placed in special measures after a six-hour rampage by inmates in October.

Some 125 convicted and sentenced inmates were sent to other prisons while the damage was repaired. Police arrested three inmates on suspicion of causing the damage.

The news comes as five people - including a prison nurse and a legal executive - were sentenced for smuggling mobile phones and drugs into cells.

It is not yet confirmed who will take charge of the prison but Mr Bourke believes he will be in post until January.

He said the decision demonstrates a "significant investment" in Lewes for the future and he had every confidence in its hard working staff.

He added: "The prison has been placed in special measures and myself and my deputy have agreed to move on to other roles."

Neil Ambrose, a member of the Lewes Prison independent monitoring board, said: "Special measures will give the prison access to funding and resources it needs to solve issues like a lack of staff. I hope this will be a positive way for Lewes to move forward and I hope the governor brought in will be one who has experience with other prisons that they can bring with them."

The board, which assesses the prison on behalf of the government, had raised several concerns about the state of affairs at Lewes months ago.

However, board members said action was only taken after the riot.

Previously the Prison Officers’ Association called on staff to take over management of the prison.

Whistleblower Kim Lennon, who was sacked from her position as a Lewes prison officer, said it was "no surprise" the it had been placed in special measures and claimed this was down to a "total lack of leadership and complete incompetence".

She added: "The staff I have spoken to seem elated that they will soon have a new management team."

Details of the findings have not been made public and the Ministry of Justice did not respond to requests for a comment yesterday.