Former Marlborough College student faces Christmas in jail (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Former Marlborough College student faces Christmas in jail

12:53pm Wednesday 3rd December 2008 in News

Rockstar's son Otis Ferry will spend Christmas behind bars after he pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice today and was refused bail.

Countryside campaigner Otis, 25, the son of Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, has spent the last two months on remand in HMP Gloucester.

He was dramatically arrested by police the day after his robbery trial was adjourned in September over allegations he interfered with a key witness.

Ferry, of Easton Mascot, Shropshire, pleaded not guilty to two charges of perverting the course of justice at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday (Wed).

But Judge Martin Picton refused to grant him bail so he will remain in prison until his witness ''nobbling'', robbery and assault trial in March next year.

Ferry, a former pupil at Marlborough College, Wilts., was on trial accused of robbing a hunt monitor and assaulting another on November 21 last year.

But his trial was halted and Ferry arrested after he allegedly telephoned witness David Hodgkiss (corr), his former groomsman, in a bid to prevent him taking the stand.

The pro-hunt campaigner pleaded not guilty yesterday (Wed) to the two witness ''nobbling'' offences, which took place in September this year.

And when Judge Martin Picton refused his lawyer's application for bail ahead of the trial someone in the public gallery shouted ''this is a f**king joke.''

A dozen supporters, including Ferry's mother, former model Lucy Helmore, and his girlfriend, Francesca Nimmo, filled the public gallery at yesterday's hearing Ferry's dad Bryan, who is separated from his mother Lucy, 48, famously visited his son in prison last month but was not in court for the hearing.

Otis, real names Charles, will now stand trial for robbery, assault trial and two counts of perverting the course of justice at Gloucester Crown Court on March 9.