An inmate headbutted a prison officer who terminated his unauthorised phone call.
At Swindon Magistrates’ Court, Richard Hassett – who is serving a custodial sentence at Erlestoke Prison in Wiltshire – pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.
The 46-year-old, from Bournemouth, attacked the male prison officer after he rushed to the Wessex Unit on hearing a ‘commotion’ at around 11pm on 11 June last year.
The officer told Hassett he should not be out of his cell or making a phone call, and the defendant became aggressive and then headbutted the officer on the nose – causing swelling.
He was restrained by the officer and other colleagues, and he was taken to the segregation unit.
Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said Hassett had numerous previous assault convictions and is currently in prison on recall and for possessing a knife in a public place in April last year.
Cynthia Hunt, defending, said her client wanted to use the telephone to contact his solicitor, but he wasn’t supposed to be out of his cell and the officer ended the call.
She says he sustained “substantial injuries” and was taken to hospital after being detained.
Ms Hunt says Hassett now has dealings with the same officer daily and they get on “very well” with no further issues.
In prison, the defendant works and is “fairly trusted”. He has also completed his forklift driving course, a cleaning course and a warehouse working course.
Magistrates sentenced him to a six-week custodial sentence and he must pay a £128 surcharge.
