Yarl's Wood pair's appeal refused

Limani (left) and Momodou were each jailed for four years

Two men convicted of violent disorder after the Yarl's Wood riot three years ago have lost their appeal.

Asylum seekers Nigerian Henry Momodou, 40, and Albanian Behar Limani, 28, were convicted at Harrow Crown Court in August 2003 and jailed for four years.

The prosecution was the result of a major disturbance at the Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre in north Bedfordshire on the 14 February 2002.

The men's appeal against conviction and sentence were refused on Wednesday.

The original appeal hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in December 2004 was adjourned for judgement.

'Coaching' of witnesses

In their verdict the appeal court judges said: "This was a truly dreadful incident of violent disorder. These appellants played a significant part in it. These appeals against conviction and sentence are dismissed."

The two men claimed that unlawful pre-trial "coaching" of prosecution witnesses led to their wrongful conviction.

The court held that although two vital witnesses had attended a programme run by legal training company Bond Solon, the safety of the convictions had not been undermined.

Bond Solon was employed by Group 4, operators of the £100m flagship immigration detention centre, to advise potential witnesses amongst its staff in the aftermath of the riot.

At the trial of alleged troublemakers, prosecutors agreed with defence lawyers that the training offered by Bond Solon was "wholly inappropriate and improper".

Group 4 insisted the programme was simply intended to familiarise witnesses with court procedures "so that giving evidence is not so intimidating".