A POLICE officer has told the Old Bailey how the man arrested for Rob Knox's murder asked to be taken straight to prison.

PC Craig Reid told the court today (Feb 20) how 21-year-old Karl Bishop had asked to go to Belmarsh during an ambulance journey after the May 24 melee which left Mr Knox dead and five others wounded.

PC Reid said Bishop told him: "Take me to Belmarsh. I'm going down anyway, just take me there now, I don't mind.

"I get gym every day, a bed, meals, take me there."

The officer said Bishop told him that he had only just got out of Belmarsh after being convicted of wounding with intent to cause GBH.

And the 21-year-old also complained he would miss a Ricky Hatton fight after being arrested, the court heard.

Earlier, PC Reid had arrived at the Metro Bar in Station Road, Sidcup, and saw a group of people armed with chairs, poles and bottles appear to be attacking somebody in the flowerbed.

He said people were shouting: "He's got two knives. He's just stabbed someone, he's just killed someone."

The officer said Bishop, who was lying in the bushes, pleaded with him to be taken away.

PC Reid told the court that even as he was speaking to Bishop, people were still trying to attack him and things including tables and chairs were being thrown in their direction.

Bishop was saying: "Please just let me out of here. Don't let them near me."

The officer said one distressed and bare-chested man was charging at Bishop aggressively.

He saw another man with a bleeding hand and told the court: "I remember hearing him crying out loud and screaming with pain."

PC Reid also noticed a large pool of blood by the flowerbed and says a knife was later found in the bushes.

At the scene, Bishop was arrested for GBH with intent and replied: "Sweet."

In the ambulance, PC Reid said Bishop became agitated.

He said: "You've only arrested me because I'm the black one. There were no other black people there and, surprise, you arrested me. I was the one being attacked."

Bishop was taken to Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, but it was decided to transfer him to Queen Elizabeth Hospital after other people from the bar turned up in the A&E department.

But as he was being taken off in an ambulance a crowd of people began yelling at him.

PC Reid said Bishop replied: "Your mum is going to get raped by a black man."

He went on: "I don't care how long I go down for. When I get out I'm going to kill you."

Later, when charged with Mr Knox's murder, Bishop again replied: "Yeah, sweet."

PC Reid said Bishop seemed "quite calm".

He said: "There was no real reaction to being told that he was arrested for murder. There didn't appear to be any remorse."

Bishop was then taken to Lewisham police station.

PC John Pruden had previously described how, one week before, Bishop had been involved in a stand-off with a group of men in Old Farm Avenue following another fight at the bar.

Bishop, who had black eyes and a bruised hand, had refused to give the police his details or go to hospital.

On that occasion, he was taken away from the scene by his mother, who worked for nearby Lima Cars.

Earlier today, witness William Chidley told the court Bishop had become angry while standing outside the bar and being asked to drop his knives.

Mr Chidley said: "He began to stab the boys one at a time."

Bishop, aged 21, of Beaver Lodge, Carlton Road, Sidcup, denies murder and five counts of wounding with intent.

The trial continues.