Inmate threw boiling water in nurse’s face, leaving visible mark
A “HANDSOME and proud” nurse says he now feels like a “monstrosity” after a prisoner threw a cup of boiling water at his face.
The father says he has lost his confidence and has not been able to return to work since Gabrielle Baker threw the cup of scalding liquid at him while he was working at HMP Foston.
The victim says the incident has left a visible mark on his face, attracting people’s attention.
Despite this, he has forgiven the 21-year-old criminal for her actions and has asked for her to be given God’s blessing. Sarah Allen, prosecuting at Derby Crown Court, said: “The defendant had previously worked with the nurse in November and December 2019. At about 10am the defendant was making herself a drink, boiled the kettle and put boiling water into a cup with sugar and salt.
“She was standing half a metre away and without any notice or provocation threw her drink at him that landed on the right side of his face. He felt immediate pain.
“He said it felt like a bomb exploding, excruciating pain. He wasn’t able to get immediate assistance for his injuries as he had to detain the defendant.”
The court heard the victim was taken to Royal Derby Hospital. There were no injuries to his eye, but he had a small blister.
The defendant wrote a letter saying she would never do that again, and that it was a horrible thing that she did.
The court heard the assault took place on February 22. The victim made two statements concerning the incident. Reading the statements, Miss Allen said: “I’m not sure my life will be the same again. I had swelling to my right eye and blistering to my face. I was a handsome man, I am no longer that person.
“I walk along the street attracting attention, not because I am proud and handsome, but because I am a monstrosity. I want to walk around with a picture around my neck to see the proud person I was.”
The court heard how the victim has flashbacks, nightmares and has not been able to return to work.
As well as the offence relating to the nurse, Baker faced further charges after writing two letters threatening to kill her mother and a probation officer.
The letter to her mother was intercepted at the prison. She then sent a letter to a member of the probation service where she again threatened to kill her mother. In a separate incident, she sent a letter to another probation officer telling her to enjoy her final weeks.
Baker pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and separate offences of threats to kill her mother and the probation officer.
Claire Moran, mitigating, said: “It is a difficult case to mitigate. The defendant wishes to stay in prison. My job is to make a sentence as short as possible or avoid a prison sentence.
“She has a personality disorder. She pleaded guilty. She has shown remorse in her letter and does take responsibility. She remains suicidal and is on constant watch. She has been diagnosed with ADHD.”
Judge Jonathan Bennett criticised Baker’s actions and extended her prison sentence. He said of the nurse: “In his statement he forgives you, using his words to ask for God’s blessing upon you.
“That is quite something. You had boiling water, you added to it other ingredients to make it more painful.”
Baker was jailed for three years and one month, with an extended licence period of three years. A restraining order was also imposed not to contact her mother without limit of time.
I am not sure my life will be the same again... I was a handsome man, I am no longer that person Victim’s statement