A prison officer allowed two inmates to attack and rob a prisoner of his CD and DVD players, leaving the victim with a broken jaw, a court has heard.

It’s been alleged HMP Swaleside guard Alexandru Dop let the attack happen before later telling a colleague: “I think I messed up”.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how Dop then refused to make a report because he feared being viewed as “a grass”.

The 37-year-old has denied a charge of misconduct in office, while working at the Eastchurch prison on the Isle of Sheppey, by allowing two inmates, Danny Forbes and Rumia Delgado to carry out the attack in May 2021 which left the alleged victim with a broken jaw.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd said Delgado and Forbes were serving prisoners at Swaleside, and set upon inmate Ashley Pring, who had returned to his cell shortly before 9am, locked his door and fell asleep.

She explained: "He suddenly woke up and saw two flashes of light.

“He found himself further down the bed and felt pain in his face and he could taste blood in his mouth. He knew his jaw was not right.

"He stood up and went towards the cell door where he saw Alex (Dop), one of the prison officers on duty that day. The officer didn't say anything to him and he didn't say anything to the prison officer.”

Pring then noticed his cell had been trashed and his CD and DVD players were missing.

"He was feeling a lot of pain and asked for someone to help but no-one came to assist him,” the prosectuor added.

“The first person (to help) was the drug and welfare officer who was doing the rounds and he complained he had been jumped."

The prosecutor added that prison officer Fowler later asked Dop what had happened but he stayed quiet and "looked pale".

He escorted the officer to the landing and Dop is alleged to have replied: "I think I have made a mistake," after Delgado and Forbes asked him to allow them onto another landing.

A senior officer said at the time there were restrictions in place preventing access to nearby landings and cells to prevent the spread of Covid.

The prosecutor said Delgado and Forbes were on a different landing to Pring "and should never have met”.

Dop is alleged to have told a senior officer later that he didn't report the incident because "he didn't want to be see as a grass," the jury were told.

Pring was later taken to hospital and treated for a fractured jaw and a bruised lip after claiming he remembered being punched in the face.

Prison CCTV footage was reviewed and the prosecution claim it showed Delgado, wearing a black hat and black jacket, and Forbes, wearing a track suit, talking to Dop.

Ms Todd added: "The two inmates are seen on screen carrying washbags and Dopp unlocks the cell door of Cell 103 where Pring was. The officer remains outside before pulling the door closed."

The prosecutor said another image showed Dop listening at the door and the two men then leave the cell with extra things in their bags, it was claimed.

When Dop was interviewed by police he told them that there were Covid restrictions "but all officers were bending the rules in allowing inmates into different areas”.

He is alleged to have told police that he knew it was wrong but if he refused "he knew there would be riots”.

Co-defendants Danny Forbes, who is now at HMP Stocken in the Midlands, and Rumia Delgado – who has since been released from prison – face charges causing grievous bodily harm to another inmate.

Delgado and Forbes, both 35, have denied causing GBH and robbing the inmates of a black Panasonic player and a Pioneer sound system.

The trial continues.