Rawmarsh prisoner gets longer jail term

A DRUNKEN prisoner from Rawmarsh who ran amok with other inmates after illegally brewing alcohol on their prison wing has had his jail term extended.

Nathan Newey was among several prisoners who drank from a secret stash of "hooch" apparently made from bread, fruit and sugar at the privately-run Category B Wolds Prison on Humberside.

A fight between inmates on the full-to-capacity Echo wing last June nearly ended in a riot and four prison officers were injured.

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Colleagues thought one of the officers had died but he later recovered.

Newey (23), of West Avenue, Rawmarsh, this week received an additional jail term of 18 months for affray on top of the sentence of four years and three months he was given at Sheffield Crown Court in September, 2008 for attempted robbery.

Judge Jacqueline Davies said that Newey had punched prison officer Jonathan Lord several times, both as the victim was standing up and on the ground.

Doncaster Crown Court heard that disorder broke out on the evening of June 10 last year after the hooch was found in several cells.

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When inmate Benjamin Fawcett was put on report, he became incensed and began fighting with another prisoner.

The incident led to a disturbance involving up to 20 prisoners and jail warders had to intervene.

Mr Tom Gent, prosecuting, said that empty containers of hooch which had been manufactured on the wing were found in several cells.

After an exercise session, the prisoners became rowdy and it was obvious that they had been drinking. Fearing trouble, the prison authorities called in reinforcements.

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But shortly afterwards, the fight broke out and prison officer Mr Lord was punched in the head and knocked to the ground where further punches and a drop-kick was landed on him.

He curled up in a ball before losing consciousness and one colleague initially thought he was dead.

Mr Lord suffered bruising and swelling to his face and had to have his nose re-set.

Another officer, Roy McLean, who tried to stop the fight, was also attacked and suffered a torn retina which needed surgery.

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As he went to help his colleagues, Prison Officer Kevin Hartley was punched in the right eye and he fell to the floor.

Fawcett (23), from Scarborough, and Newey both admitted affray.

In addition, Fawcett, admitted assaulting Mr McLean causing grievous bodily harm.

Another inmate, Scott Mellor (24), of Barnsley, was cleared of assaulting PO Hartley after a trial.

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Fawcett was given a further three-year jail term on top of his current sentence and Newey a further 18 months.

The court heard that four of the attacked prison officers had been unable to return to normal duties nine months later.

Sentencing the two defendants, Judge Davies said: "Prison officers have a difficult enough role in the prison looking after people like yourselves without exposure to this kind of alcohol-induced violence.

“This was an incident which could have escalated but the action of the prison officers prevented that escalation."

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