Prison inmate bit officer and struck another
AN inmate sank his teeth into a prison officer’s arm after staff had gone into his cell to stop him banging his head on the walls, a court has heard.
Dennis White was being held on remand in HMP Swansea when he bit one officer and struck another in the face with his own radio.
The member of staff he bit had to undergo blood tests and vaccinations and had to wait six months before getting the all-clear for a possible hepatitis infection. He has been left with a permanent scar.
White has a long history of offending, ranging from robbery to animal cruelty.
Swansea Crown Court heard that on the afternoon of July 11, 2019, officers heard banging noises coming from White’s cell.
Ian Ibrahim, prosecuting, said officers looked through the hatch in the door and saw the 35-yearold defendant repeatedly striking his head against the wall. When officers entered the cell to stop him harming himself White “lunged” at them.
The court heard that in the “melee” that ensued the defendant bit the upper arm of one officer, with the bite lasting for between six and 10 seconds. He also grabbed a radio from anther officer and “swung” it at his face, catching him on the cheek.
Mr Ibrahim said the officer who was bitten went to Neath Port Talbot Hospital to have the wound seen to and subsequently underwent a number of blood tests and vaccinations.
The barrister said it was six months before the officer received the allclear over any possible hepatitis infection and has been left with a visible scar.
White, of Elizabeth Street, Thomastown, Tonyrefail, Rhondda Cynon Taf, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and to assaulting an emergency worker.
He has 22 previous convictions for 36 offences including robbery, aggravated vehicle-taking, possession of an imitation firearm, animal cruelty, arson, ABH, harassment, assaulting a police officer, possession of Class A drugs, theft, and criminal damage.
Emma Harris, for White, said a psychiatric report into the defendant showed he was a “very troubled individual” with a difficult family background who had grown up in care and began misusing substances at the age of seven.
She said White “does not recall the events of that day in great detail” but knows his behaviour crossed the line and wished to apologise.
Judge Catherine Richards said the offending against public servants doing their job was so serious that only immediate custody was appropriate.
Giving the defendant credit for his guilty pleas, she sentenced him to six months in prison. White will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
The judge called the delay in the matter coming to court “inexcusable”.