Brother: 'Otis a political prisoner'

The brother of Otis Ferry has echoed claims that the countryside campaigner is a "political prisoner".

Tara Ferry said his brother, who lives at Eaton Mascott, near Shrewsbury, was being poorly treated by inmates at HMP Gloucester, as he awaits trial for allegedly attacking a hunt monitor while she filmed him at his sport.

Dressed in a wax jacket and skinny jeans, Tara echoed comments made by Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski that his brother was a "political prisoner".

The 18-year-old recently visited his older brother in prison with their father – former Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry – and said he was appalled at his brother's detention. He was remanded in custody on September 18.

Tara, a student at Chelsea College of Art and Design, was outside Gloucester Crown Court yesterday hoping for a quick word with his older brother as he boarded a remand prisoners' van.

Otis appeared in court for a scheduled bail application, which was withdrawn without reason by his counsel at the last minute.

Judge Martin Picton told the 26-year-old he would remain in custody until his trial next year.

Tara said: "He's a political prisoner. There are drug dealers and illegal immigrants given bail all the time but he's kept behind bars."

Tara said Otis kept himself occupied by "writing and reading".

"There's really nothing much for him to do," he said. "He's getting a hard time from some of the other guys in there."