POLICE are investigating 'other persons' in the case against rock star Bryan Ferry's son Otis, who is accused of witness nobbling, it was revealed today.

The prosecution at Gloucester crown court hinted that the new police investigations could lead to other people as well as 26-year-old Ferry being charged with perverting the course of justice.

Ferry, joint master of the South Shropshire Hunt, was appearing for a brief progress hearing of his case before Judge Martin Picton.

The case had been listed for a mention and for Ferry to make a bail application. But in fact no application was made by defence QC Guy Gozem and Ferry was remanded back into prison custody.

Judge Picton ruled that Ferry will return on December 3rd for a plea and case management hearing and his 4-5 day trial will take place on March 9 next year.

The six foot two tall fox hunting enthusiast is accused of two offences of trying to 'nobble' a witness against him in a case where he is accused of assaulting a woman Hunt Monitor and robbing her of a camera at a Hunt meeting in the Cotswolds.

Prosecutor Kerry Barker told the court today that at present the Crown are on target to serve their file of evidence on the defence as scheduled on November 19.

But he told Judge Picton "Police are heavily involved in investigations of other persons. I have to tell the court that there could be complications."

Judge Picton said "I can see the potential for complications but we may as well travel on with the case as it is and see how far we get along the line."

He said he had understood there was to be a bail application today but having read the latest prosecution material today he could understand why there was not.

The judge pointed out that although he had originally set the plea and case management hearing for 5th December he would not now be at court that day and he brought it forward to Dec 3.

Mr Gozem urged the Crown to keep the defence informed of the progress of the new enquiries - preferably on Nov 19th when the prosecution evidence has to be served on the defence.

But Judge Picton said that may not be realistic because often the police could not give away the state of an investigation while it was still ongoing.

"From what I have read there could be some things done between now and then and may indeed be going on at the moment," he said.

Ferry was wearing a blue suit, green pullover and tee shirt - and had a poppy on his lapel - as he stepped into the dock with two security officers for the hearing.

He was sporting a new short, straight hairstyle with fringe. That, and his lack of a tie, were the most noticeable changes since his last appearance on September 24 when he was remanded in custody to await trial next March.

Ferry, who has been visited at Gloucester Jail by his famous Roxy Music star father, celebrated his 26th birthday behind bars on November 1.

The high profile countryman, whose full name is Charles Frederick Otis Ferry, had acknowledged the name 'Charles Ferry' from the clerk of the court when he first stepped into the dock this morning.

The ex Marlborough School pupil, of Keepers Cottage, Cross Hands, Eaton Mascot, near Shrewsbury, is alleged to have tried to prevent his former groomsman David Hodgkiss, giving evidence against him in his trial on charges of robbing and assaulting a woman hunt monitor, Helen Ghalmi, on November 21 last year at Lower Swell, near Stow on the Wold.

The robbery and assault trial had been due to get under way in September at the Cirencester Courthouse in Gloucestershire but after three days of legal arguments it was abandoned and the jury was discharged.

Ferry was then arrested and new allegations of perverting the course of justice were made against him.

The original charges against Ferry are that while he was hunting with the Heythrop Hunt at Lower Swell he robbed Ms Ghalmi of a video camera - which she was using to film his activities - and a set of keys. He is also said to have assaulted her.

The first new charge against Ferry alleges that on 8th September at Caynham, Ludlow, Shropshire, with intent to pervert the course of public justice, he telephoned David Hodgkiss - a potential witness in criminal proceedings against him - and 'instructed him not to provide the police with certain evidence in relation to an allegation of robbery.'

The second charge alleges that between 7-17 September Ferry did a series of acts tending to pervert the course of justice by telephoning Mr Hodgkiss and stating that he 'would discredit him as a disgruntled former employee.'

After today's hearing Otis' brother Tara Ferry (18) said Otis is a victim of "injustice".

"It shows how c**p the police are and what they can get away with," said the Chelsea student.

He said he had visited Otis in prison a few weeks ago.

"When I saw him, he seemed very strong and positive – surprisingly energetic," he said.

A friend of Otis's, James Symonds, 23, from Cirencester, said what happened today was because "the police suddenly submitted new evidence which they could have submitted a week ago".

He added: "The CPS and the police are just trying to delay things as long as possible."

Their comments came in the wake of Ferry's Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski describing his famous constituent earlier thos week as a 'political prisoner.'

Mr Kawczynski says he believes that the Crown Prosection Service's opposition to Ferry having bail is a punishment to the rock star's son and his 'hunting chums' for previous escapades, which include an invasion of the House of Commons.

"I have received a letter from Otis Ferry in prison and I am absolutely convinced he is being kept as a political prisoner," said Kawczynski.

"I am concerned that they are putting political pressure on the CPS to keep him in prison.

"I am in the process of going to Gloucester Prison and I am going to be speaking to him.

"I have also been on the phone to the governor of the prison and I am writing to the head of the CPS."