A prisoner broke a fellow inmate’s skull at HMP Altcourse because he thought he had raped him when he was a child.
Jonathan Edwards, 31, attacked his victim – a pensioner suffering from lung cancer – on April 10 last year.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how he punched his fellow inmate twice in the head, causing him to fall to the floor.
Edwards, appearing in court via video link from HMP Liverpool , admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Henry Hills, defending, said: “The offence was motivated by the defendant’s perception that he was the man who raped him some 23 years ago.”
The court heard the victim has not been convicted of committing any sexual offences against Edwards.
Mike Stephenson, prosecuting, said the incident happened in an exercise area at the privately run G4S prison in Fazakerley at around 10am.
Another prisoner, who was trained in first aid, said the victim stopped breathing after the attack and that he gave him a jaw thrust manoeuvre to clear his airways.
The inmate suffered a prolonged fracture to the frontal bone of his skull, a black eye and a broken right rib.
Edwards, of Dovey Close, Flint, North Wales, was on remand at the time and is now serving a sentence for burglary. He was due to be released next month.
Mr Hills said: “I accept on his behalf that these were serious injuries, but fortunately there does not appear to have been any permanent disability as a result of this assault.
“This was a spontaneous assault involving two punches and not premeditated by Mr Edwards.
“He says at the time of the incident he was so distressed that he wet himself.”
Mr Hills accepted that his client had “a bad record” but said he had never been convicted for this level of violence.
Aerial pic of Altcourse Prison, Brookfield Drive, Liverpool.
He said Edwards’ life had been blighted by drug use and that a former girlfriend had died as a result of an overdose.
Judge David Aubrey, QC, said the injuries could easily have been “even more serious” and the second blow must have been particularly forceful.
He said: “This offence was motivated by your perception, rightly or wrongly it does not matter, that your victim had abused you many, many years ago.
“That of course is a factor that will be taken into account when assessing the duration of your sentence.
“But also it must be borne in mind that the incident itself occurred within Altcourse prison itself and that offences of this nature cause potential or even factual damage within the prison system.
“There may well be prisoners who are apprehensive for any reason whatsoever that they may be subjected to violence.
“There must be an element of deterrence in the sentence that this court passes upon you.”
Judge Aubrey sentenced Edwards to a further 20 months behind bars.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/