TWO Redditch men are among a group who have been charged with supplying prohibited items into prisons including HMP Hewell.

Seven men and two women attended Birmingham Magistrates Court yesterday, Monday 22 May.

They will all appear at Birmingham Crown Court on June 23.

The charges come after a lengthy investigation by West Mercia Police, in conjunction with HM Prison Service into the supply of drugs, weapons and other prohibited articles into HMP Hewell in Redditch and HMP Birmingham in Winson Green, HMP Stoke Heath in Shropshire and HMP Featherstone in Wolverhampton.

The offences ranged from simple throwing of items into prisons to the sophisticated use of drones to fly items into the prison.

Eight individuals, including Craig Hickenbottom, aged 34 formerly of HMP Hewell, will face charges of conspiring to supply prohibited items into prisons.

One will face a charge of conspiring to supply prohibited articles into prisons and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

And two men, including John Hickenbottom, aged 50 formerly of HMP Hewell, will attend Birmingham Magistrates Court on May 26 in relation to charges of conspiring to supply prohibited items into prisons.