A prison inmate who was about to be released has admitted assaulting two prison officers.

Alistair John Cowin appeared in court via video link from the prison but had to be removed from the video booth after he constantly interrupted the court.

Cowin claimed the prison officers were actually undercover police officers who were part of a conspiracy to keep him in prison.

We previously reported that the 37-year-old had to be removed from the court dock on his previous appearance after becoming abusive to magistrates.

On Thursday, prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that Cowin was about to be released from prison on June 9 after serving a sentence.

However, during the discharge process he was said to have become agitated as he looked through his belongings, complaining that there were no clean clothes.

He was offered some clothes by prison officers but then squared up to one officer, telling him: ’I’m this far away from losing it and knocking you out.’

The officer put his hand up to keep Cowin away but Cowin was said to have pushed it away and grabbed him around the neck.

The prison officer broke free and then took hold of Cowin with the help of another officer.

Cowin was then said to have struck out, hitting one of the officers on the jaw and then tried to bite him.

After being restrained Cowin was interviewed and said prison officers had put dirty clothes in with clean clothes.

He claimed that the prison officers were undercover police, as there was a conspiracy to keep him in prison.

As the facts were read out Cowin shouted ’they are’ from the video booth.

He continued to interrupt the court and magistrates subsequently asked for him to be taken back to his cell to calm down.

After a brief interlude a prison officer returned to the booth and told magistrates that Cowin had said proceedings could continue without him as he ’didn’t care’.

Prosecutor Mr Kane said that an adjournment would be required anyway as a basis of plea in relation to the assaults had been entered by Cowin, which had not been accepted yet and would need to be reviewed against CCTV footage.

Defence advocate Paul Glover said that Cowin had entered a basis of plea denying grabbing the officer by the neck, saying that he had pushed him, and also denying an attempted bite.

In the basis of plea Cowin admitted striking the officer on the jaw, but said this was while he was flailing his arms around on the ground rather than deliberate.

Magistrates adjourned the case until June 24 when Cowin will again appear via video link.

No bail application was made.