THE region’s top prosecutor has joined convicts on an unpaid work party in Worcestershire.

Colin Chapman, West Mercia’s chief crown prosecutor, was getting stuck in at the Worcester Countryside Centre for Inside Justice Week this week.

Mr Chapman, who heads the Crown Prosecution Service, which prosecutes offenders in the courts, donned heavy duty boots and work clothes to help highlight the work of the Criminal Justice System.

He got his hands dirty on the fact-finding mission helping to plant flowers in the centre’s gardens alongside workers from Worcestershire County Council.

The other work party members were attending as part of their community order handed down as punishment by the courts.

Mr Chapman said: “This wasn’t fun by any stretch of the imagination and I ended my few hours of community punishment reinforcing my view that prison isn’t always the best option and that community penalties do work.”

Will Hall, probation service supervisor, said: “An awful lot of good work is put back into communities by offenders carrying out their punishment and it is nice to see this recognised.”