PRISONER STABBED OFFICER THROUGH CHEEK WITH PEN
Attacker was due for release next day:
AN inmate who stabbed a prison officer in the face with a pen so hard it snapped inside his cheek has been jailed.
Evan Williams armed himself with the ballpoint pen and used it as a weapon to attack the guard in HMP Berwyn last year.
It happened just a day before the 47-year-old’s scheduled release after serving a three-year sentence for burglary, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.
Williams, from Bangor, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court via video link and admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed for 21 months by Judge Rhys Rowlands.
Judge Rowlands said: “I have to deal with you for what was quite a vicious attack upon a prison officer within 24 hours of your release.
“It involved you stabbing him with a plastic Biro so hard it snapped in his face, causing a very unpleasant injury.
“It was an unprovoked assault and it caused an unpleasant and worrying injury to the officer.”
Prosecutor Owen Edwards said that, at around 8am on December 16, prison officer George Roberts was on duty with Suzanne Jones, checking prisoners on B wing.
Ms Jones said the defendant was “behaving erratically” and “constantly seeking attention”.
Mr Roberts went to Williams’ cell alone and saw the defendant standing by his bed, “looking hyperactive”.
He told Williams to sit down but as Mr Roberts took a step inside the cell, Williams (pictured) “lunged at him”.
The court heard the prison officer initially thought he’d been punched to the face, but had in fact been stabbed with a pen.
It was when his colleague ran in to help that Mr Roberts was able to pin the defendant to his bed until other officers arrived.
The remnants of the pen that were stuck in the side of his face had to be removed in hospital.
In interview, Williams said he had acted in self defence having anticipated he’d be attacked.
Mr Edwards said the defendant has 73 previous convictions for 194 offences including harassment and threatening behaviour, battery, ABH, and common assault.
Defence barrister Simon Rogers accepted custody was inevitable. He said the only “real mitigation” in the case was the defendant’s guilty plea, adding there was “evidence of remorse for his actions”.
Mr Rogers said a diagnosis of mental health difficulties had historically been “difficult” and ranged from a personality disorder, drug induced psychosis and schizophrenia.
“The current diagnosis is one of an emotionally unstable personality disorder,” Mr Rogers said.
The judge made no order for compensation.