Inmates at a Medway young offenders' institute went on the rampage after the governor cut down their television viewing time, a court heard.

Thirty-two youths refused to leave the exercise area and then proceeded to cause about £10,000 worth of damage, ripping up concrete and smashing windows.

It cost a further £25 to £30,000 in extra staffing that became necessary.

Maidstone Crown Court was told it was almost six hours before a riot squad and dog handlers arrived at Cookham Wood in Rochester to restore peace.

Max Potter, 18, of Tooting Bec, south west London, Charlie Ackhurst, 18, of Edmonton, north London, Derrick Igho, 17, of Churchill Avenue, Chatham, Marlon Tudor, 18, of Neasden, north west London, Sam Bennett, 18, of no fixed address, and Reece Blackston, 18, of Longfield Road, Meopham, admitted violent disorder.

All except Potter were sentenced to eight months custody. Potter was given 34 weeks suspended for 18 months with 100 hours unpaid work.

Deepak Kapur, prosecuting, said Cookham Wood had a capacity of 143 inmates either serving sentences or being held on remand.

There were 135 at the time of the incident on June 29 last year with 25-30 officers on duty at any given time.

Mr Kapur said there was increased violence between inmates and officers in May and June and a staff shortage.

As a result, the governor ordered that TV would be switched off earlier, at 10pm, if there was bad behaviour.

The next day offenders from Beech wing refused to leave the astro turf five-a-side pitch in the exercise area, chanting: "You should not have taken our TV. It is all we have got."

Staff withdrew and one officer filmed the damage that ensued. Ackhurst threatened to stab somebody and take a hostage, said Mr Kapur.

About five-and-a-half hours later, a Tornado team arrived with six dogs to restore order.

Judge Charles Macdonald QC said one inmate had been hooded with his hands tied around his back and paraded around.

"There was damage, destruction and intimidation," he said. "It was fortunate nobody was hurt. This was a very serious type of offence and a moderately serious example of it."