March 4, 2019 5.03 pm This story is over 68 months old

Lincoln inmate hospitalised prison officer

The officer has since left the prison service

A HMP Lincoln inmate punched a prison officer and left him with a serious facial injury.

Jason Johnson, 23, attacked the officer at Lincoln’s Greetwell Road Jail after he was ordered back to his cell.

Philip Plant, prosecuting, said: “This happened at 9 am when officers were seeking to put those not working back into their cells for lock-up.

“The defendant was seen moving between different levels on the wing and was found hiding behind the pool table. He was requested to return back to his cell but he was seen dodging around.

“Three prison officers approached him. He punched one of them and the man collapsed to the ground. The defendant was then restrained.”

Mr Plant said that the injured prison officer suffered a fractured eye socket and later underwent surgery to have a titanium plate inserted.

“The officer was off sick for four weeks and then had four weeks on half duties. He left the prison service in November.

“He felt there had been a lack of support from the prison service following the assault. He had expected to have a long career in the prison service but because of this he is now a hospital porter.”

Lincoln Crown Court was told that Johnson had 39 previous convictions for a total of 60 offences.

The attack happened while he was serving a 50-week sentence for burglary.

Johnson currently being held at Peterborough Prison, admitted a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm as a result of the incident on 4 May 2018. He was jailed for 12 months.

Mark Watson, in mitigation, told the court: “He is not habitually a violent offender. His offending is mainly linked to drug abuse.

“He did not set out to injure the officer. It was a spontaneous punch. It was not a sustained and repeated assault.”