A MAN has gone on hunger strike in order to protest at being recalled to prison.

Roy Robertson, 49, of Colchester, remains in Chelmsford Prison even though charges against him of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery were dropped a week ago.

But it is understood his arrest alone meant he breached a licence given after he was jailed for manslaughter in 2007. As a result he is now behind bars.

Mum Hazel Wilson, said he is so upset about the decision he has been on hunger strike since Friday.

She said: “He definitely should not be there, because he has not done anything wrong.

“It’s time he was out of jail. Half the town knows him very well, and loves him.”

She said prison officers were regularly checking up on her son, to make sure he was all right.

She added: “He’s trying to draw attention to his case.”

Robertson, of Compton Road, Colchester, was handed a three-year jail sentence in August 2007 after admitting the manslaughter of James Manton, at his home in September 2006.

He would have served at least half of his sentence in prison, before being released to serve the remainder on licence.

A spokeswoman for the Essex probation service said she could not comment on individual cases.

But she said a prisoner out on licence did not have to be convicted of a crime in order to be recalled to jail.

She said: “A person is serving their sentence in the community if they are out on licence.

“Any indication their behaviour is deteriorating, and it can be several factors which will prompt us, then they will be recalled.”

Robertson could be told to spend the remainder of his sentence in prison, or a parole board could release him sooner.

A prison service spokesperson said: “A prisoner at HMP Chelmsford is currently refusing food.

“Guidance to prison staff on managing food refusal states it should always be taken seriously.

“The prisoner should be helped to find constructive ways to meet his or her underlying needs and healthcare staff should be involved to assess the prisoner’s physical and mental health.”