Suspended Hartlepool prison officer asks for jury trial after denying extreme pornography allegations
A prison officer from Hartlepool is set to stand trial after denying possessing pornography featuring animals.
Craig Powell, 40, is charged with two counts of possessing an extreme pornographic image on February 1 last year.
He indicated that he pleads not guilty when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Monday, March 1.
Prosecutor Cheryl Ford said: “It’s an allegation of there being two videos of bestiality have been found on the defendant’s mobile phone.”
The court said the trial could be dealt with at the magistrates’ court or at the crown court with a jury.
Powell, who is currently suspended from his job as a prison officer, chose to have a trial at Teesside Crown Court.
District Judge Kristina Harrison said: “It will be transferred to the crown court today where you will appear on the 29th of March at 10 o’clock.”
Powell, of Spalding Road, Hartlepool, was granted unconditional bail by the court.