NINE ‘prisoners’ were tried and jailed outside the Guildhall for crimes committed in the workplace, including not making tea for colleagues – all to raise thousands for St Richard’s Hospice.

The inmates went through a mock trial inside the building’s old courtroom at 10am on Friday before being shackled and led outside where they had to raise £500 each to be released.

Local branches of NatWest, Asda, Majestic Bingo and One Stop were represented, with others ‘doing time’ including Worcester City FC chairman Steve Goode.

The latter said he was persuaded to take part after a charity game at Pershore Town, with a percentage of the profits going towards the city-based hospice.

“When I went up to deliver the money on behalf of Worcester City and Pershore Town, I was asked if I’d like to take part. It’s a great cause and next season St Richard’s are going to be our main charity associated with the club,” he said.

Mr Goode joked he was missing his TV but said: “The food’s good, I’ve got a convict here who smuggled some jelly babies in. To be fair if one of us keeps the officer talking, we can pop over to Costa.”

He went on to say, “it’s a bit of fun and a worthy cause” but said he was a bit worried about the “horrendous” weather over the last couple of days.

“If it had rained, we would have still done it, we would have still had a smile on our faces, but the sponsor forms would have been a bit wet,” he added.

Event organiser Ria Simons, of the hospice, said while this kind of event has been done before in the city, it’s the first time St Richard’s has done it.

“It’s a nice event where companies are coming together to work with the hospice,” she added. “All monies raised will go towards supporting our care.”

Whoever raised the least amount of money had to spend some time in Guildhall’s old jail cells.

Prisoner Helen Harding, of Discover History, said she has previously spent a night in one the cells for charity, but wasn’t troubled by any of the supposed resident ghosts.