Prison inmate slashed with blade in 'cut for a cut' attack

A prisoner slashed a fellow inmate across the face with a blade. James Prince had been attacked by victim Dale Bailey and it was a "cut for a cut" attack, a court heard.

The victim needed stitches for the wound after the incident in HMP Berwyn, Wrexham, in April last year. Prince, who admitted assault causing grievous bodily harm, has paranoid schizophrenia and a judge on Monday sent him to a secure hospital.

Prosecutor Catherine Elvin told Mold Crown Court that Prince, 30, and Mr Bailey were seen talking in a communal area on April 12. Prince took his right hand from his pocket and struck Mr Bailey on the left side of his face in a "slashing motion", she said.

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The defendant ran off back to his wing and prison guard Adrian Rind dealt with Mr Bailey. The weapon was never recovered and Prince told a guard he had "thrown it".

A member of staff called Lisa Scott found a wound 6.5cm long by 0.5 cm deep. Mr Bailey was taken to A&E for stitches. The injury later re-opened and he was given Steri-Strips, which are adhesive strips used to close small wounds.

The court heard Mr Bailey had previously assaulted Prince giving him a cut to his eye. After Prince carried out his own attack on Mr Bailey the defendant told a guard it had been "a cut for a cut".

The court also heard that Prince suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and is receiving treatment at Llanarth Court Hospital, a secure unit in Monmouthshire. Doctors for the prosecution and defence agreed a hospital order would be the best solution for the defendant in this case.

Barrister Stephen McNally, defending, said his client had a "recognised condition" which was "capable of treatment". There is a place available for Prince "to continue the progress he has made".

Judge Rhys Rowlands said it appeared to have been a "tit-for-tat attack using an improvised blade" by Prince, who had been serving a four-year sentence. It had left some "pretty nasty cuts" to his victim's face, he added.

But he said Prince was suffering from a serious mental disorder in paranoid schizophrenia and experts deemed it appropriate for him to continue his treatment where he currently is. "There is far more protection for the community and also far better treatment for you by having a hospital order," added the judge.

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