Jailed, prison officer who slashed man over claims he raped woman
A PRISON officer has been jailed for more than three years for slashing a man he believed was a rapist.
Gary Grimes, 39, targeted Andrew Wingate in a pub, attacking him with a blade and leaving him scarred for life.
The victim needed surgery for a number of facial wounds following the assault. Yesterday, at the High
Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Matthews told Grimes: ‘You decided to take the law into your own hands.
‘You, of all people, having been a prison officer for many years, should have known better. Your victim has been left with scars as well as the stigma of being called a rapist without a trial.’
First-offender Grimes – who was working at HMP Low Moss in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, at the time of the attack – pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Wingate to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.
He was jailed for three years and nine months. He originally faced an attempted murder charge.
The court heard that Grimes and Mr Wingate were at the Commercial Inn in Lennoxtown, Dunbartonshire, on December 29, 2018. The victim did not speak to the prison guard.
Around 10.50pm, CCTV footage showed Grimes pounce on Mr Wingate, who was at a table nearby.
Prosecutor Graeme Jessop said: ‘He approached him and, without warning, lunged towards Mr Wingate and repeatedly slashed him with a Stanley-type knife.’
The footage showed Grimes being dragged away by customers as others gave first aid to a bleeding Mr Wingate
When police arrived, Grimes was outside. He told officers: ‘I have just slashed a guy who raped a woman I know.’
The woman had made allegations about Mr Wingate to a relative but no accusation was ever reported to the police.
The hearing was told Mr Wingate suffered a 4in ‘deep wound’ at the jaw.
Mr Jessop said: ‘He required surgery and was then referred to plastic surgery. I am advised there will be scarring.’
Tony Lenehan, defending, said: ‘He [Grimes] is an essentially decent man who made a wrong decision.’