FREED TO ATTACK
Razor thug had been released from State Hospital weeks before slashing
This is the horrifying moment a dangerous armed robber casually slashed a prison guard on the face leaving him scarred for life.
CCTV captured of f icer Stuart Sproull helpfully going to open a door to allow Thomas Stevenson access to another part of the jail.
Stevenson responded by f l icking a razor blade in the officer’s f ace – inf l ict ing horrific injuries.
Prison officers’ union bosses described the unprovoked attack as “shocking”. They also criticised doctors at the State Hospital at Carstai rs af ter it emerged Stevenson had been deemed fit for release from maximum security healthcare weeks earlier. Footage shows Stevenson, 38, of Ardrossan, Ayrshire, jogging away after the attack.
He appears to toss the razor aside – but then goes back seconds later near to where he attacked Stuart.
Other staff members can be seen ordering Stevenson to the ground before restraining him as the jail goes into lockdown. Stevenson, now back at Carstairs, appeared from custody at Hamilton Sheriff Court earlier this month and pleaded guilty to striking Stuart in the face with a blade.
The attack happened in Shotts prison on June 28 last year. Stevenson, serving a six-year sentence for assault and robbery in Ayrshire, had only been returned to Shotts from Carstairs eight weeks before the attack.
Stevenson was on antipsychotic medication at the time he was transferred back.
A cannabis user since his teens, he has been held in various psychiatric units across Ayrshire in the past. He approached Stuart at around 8am and threw what appeared to be a punch.
It soon became clear the prison officer had been slashed and was bleeding heavily.
Stuart suffered an 8cm cut from his mouth up to his left cheek and will be left with permanent disfigurement. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard there was “no background and no history between the prison officer and Stevenson”.
Sheriff Ray Small granted an interim compulsion order meaning Stevenson wi l l remain at the State Hospital for at least 12 weeks. He is due back in court in October.
Andy Hogg, assistant general secretary of Prison Officers Association Scotland
We have concerns around the process of severe mental health issues
( POAS), said: “This was a shocking and unprovoked attack on of f icer Sproul l delivered by someone whose actions would suggest he should never have been released from the State Hospital in the first instance.
“We have considerable concerns around the process in place for managing severe mental health issues that sees the return of people such as pr i soner Stevenson to mains t ream pr isons – presumably because they are deemed to no longer require treatment or are perhaps considered untreatable.
“This raises a fundamental question of whether direct transfer between the two facilities is appropriate or whether there should be a form of hal fway house where medical professionals can assess suitability to return to prison establishments over a longer period of time. Rather than leave officers subject to random and unprovoked attacks from prisoners who clearly should be held in secure healthcare facilities.
“It’s interesting to note the State Hospital have closed a ward due to lack of patient through-put, recognising that not every prisoner with mental health issues would require treatment in secure facilities.
“Given the scale of mental health issues in prisons is well documented, perhaps making use of an available ward in the State Hospital, as a halfway house under the control of medical professionals, could prov ide an answer to alleviating some of the mental health issues in prisons.”
A State Hospital spokeswoman said they were unable to comment on individual patients.
She said transfers involved discussions with health services, local authorities, police and the prison service.
She added: “A patient would be considered for transfer from the State Hospital once his mental health had improved and his behaviour settled for a prolonged period.
“During a patient’s stay in the State Hospital there is an ongoing process of formal risk assessment and management.
“This includes an assessment of the appropriate level of security for a patient’s care.”
A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: “Given the nature of their work, prison staff can work with dangerous and difficult individuals and on rare occasions assaults on staff unfortunately do occur.
“We recognise t he importance of providing a safe environment for our staff.
“It is our policy that al l assaults on staff are reported to the appropriate authorities.”