A prisoner with toothache sparked a riot because warders refused to give him stronger painkillers.

Stephen Kelly warned officers at Lewes Prison he would cause trouble if his request for medication was refused.

Kelly and other inmates went on the rampage as terrified guards fled A-wing.

Two officers were showered with glass as offices were wrecked, windows smashed, toilets damaged, walls defaced with graffiti and a small fire started during the riot on the evening of October 7 last year.

Officer Kevin Allcorn was confronted by Kelly who was armed with a wooden pole with which he battered him on the leg and arms, causing severe bruising.

By the time order was restored four hours later, more than £60,000 damage had been caused.

Kelly, 31, of Chichester Place, Brighton, admitted charges of theatening behaviour, common assault and criminal damage when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard Kelly had been on remand accused of conspiracy to burgle and was later convicted and jailed for four years.

Jonathan Edwards, prosecuting, told the court the riot was initiated by Kelly and another inmate, who was released from jail before charges were made against him.

Kelly had demanded stronger painkillers and indicated to officers he would cause trouble if he did not get what he wanted.

He was offered medication but did not believe it was strong enough and declined the pills.

Mr Allcorn tried to restrain Kelly against a wall but realised he was isolated from his colleagues and surrounded by about 120 inmates.

Jeremy Wainwright, defending, said: "The cause of all this was the defendant being in considerable pain as a result of long-term problems with his teeth.

"He has had 21 teeth removed and at the time he had a piece of wire piercing his gums. As soon as he was moved from Lewes to another prison, he had an operation."

Judge David Rennie jailed Kelly for four months, which will run concurrently with his existing sentence.