Prisoner given extra year

A PRISONER from Runcorn who was rumbled after hiding two “fearsome” weapons in his cell has had his stay in prison extended by a year.

A home-made improvised ‘portcullis’style metal knuckle duster and a lock knife were seized from Leon Cook’s cell at Merseyside’s Altcourse Prison, where a prison officer had his throat slashed earlier this month.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday, April 20, that the numbers of weapons seized in the G4S-run establishment has increased year-onyear from 67 in 2014 to 148 last year.

Sentencing 18-year-old Cook, who is currently serving 40 months for robbery, Judge Andrew Menary, QC, said that Cook could have “no legitimate purpose” for possessing the knuckle duster, which had five very sharp spikes, and the knife.

“They are both fearsome weapons capable of inflicting the most serious injuries if not fatal ones.”

Cook, who appeared by video link from Swinfell Hall prison in Staffordshire, was not legally represented and asked by Judge Menary if he had anything he wanted to say to him he replied “no.”

Further pressed Cook said: “I am in a different prison and I have started to behave myself.”

Chris Taylor, prosecuting, had told the court that Cook, of no fixed address, has committed 35 previous offences including the robbery for which he received detention in November.

Cook pleaded guilty to two offences of possessing banned items in prison.

The 12 months detention he received will begin when he finishes his current sentence. OR CALL