Campaigning inmates at a new north-east superjail caused nearly £250,000 of damage during a drunken 14-hour seige, it has emerged.
More than 40 prisoners at Peterhead’s HMP Grampian barricaded themselves into a second-floor cell block during the stand-off with staff last month.
Around 40 specialist workers were drafted in from prisons across the country, while police and other emergency services were called to the South Road facility as a precaution.
Last night, the Scottish Prison Service revealed that the cost of repairing the damage had now reached £246,677.
The inmates caused more than £39,000 worth of damage to flooring and £16,300 to cell doors and windows.
A further £8,000 of damage was done to pool tables and exercise equipment.
An SPS spokeswoman said: “It would be inappropriate to comment in detail on what remains a live police investigation.
“The SPS is supporting Police Scotland in identifying those responsible and where there is sufficient evidence, individuals will be reported to the procurator fiscal for consideration of prosecution.”
All inmates involved in the incident have since been moved to other prisons, including Perth and Barlinnie in Glasgow.
As a precaution, prison bosses transferred all young offenders to Polmont, near Falkirk, amid fears that they too could be tempted to go on the rampage.
A police spokesman confirmed that inquiries were ongoing.
The stand-off began at 8pm on May 13 and ended at 10.30am the following day, when prison staff stormed the barricaded wing.
It is understood many of those involved were drunk on their own homemade hooch, which was put together using simple kitchen ingredients like fruit and stale bread.
The stand-off was classed by the prison service as a level three incident and is the first of its kind in Scotland for about six years.
It happened just weeks after the Press and Journal revealed there had been at least two flare-ups between staff and inmates – as well as an assault in the visiting area – since the £140million jail opened in early March.
An official opening ceremony, planned for April, has been postponed indefinitely.