Inmate attacked prison officer with makeshift knife days after pouring boiling water over prisoner and stabbing him 30 times

Romeo Barnett has now been given a new 11-year extended sentence for the “senseless” horror assault at HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire.

On March 26 of this year, Barnett admitted in court to attacking an officer at Wetherby Young Offender Institute, biting him. He was also carrying a makeshift knife and riot officers had to be called in to tackle him. He was given a 10-month sentence for that assault, running consecutively to his previous 44-month term.

The 19-year-old’s barrister told Leeds Crown Court at the time: “He knows he should not have behaved in this manner. He has learned a lesson from this. He is remorseful and trying to better himself."

But it has since become apparent that five days before that appearance at Leeds Crown Court, he had committed the savage assault at HMP Five Wells.

He had thrown the boiling water over the inmate at around 5.50pm on March 21. When the scalded victim staggered from his cell, Barnett threw a chair at him, sparking a physical fight.

Barnett then stabbed him more than 30 times with a six-inch makeshift knife to the back of the head, face shoulders and arms, most of which were superficial injuries.

However, he also sustained a single serious stab wound to the left-hand side of his chest and was rushed to hospital, where he was treated for a haemothorax - blood collecting between the chest wall and the lung.

Barnett was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and the unauthorised possession in prison of a knife or offensive weapon. Barnett later pleaded guilty to Section 18 wounding with intent, and the knife charge. The attempted murder charge was dropped.

Barnett’s extended sentence is made up of six years and four months’ imprisonment with an extension of five years on licence.

Northamptonshire Police’s Detective Sergeant Nichola Sanderson of CID North, whose led the investigation, said: “This was a particularly violent attack within the confines of the prison, and it is only by sheer luck that this senseless act didn’t have more serious, or even, fatal consequences.

“Such violence has no place in our society and that includes within the prison establishment, where prisoners should be able to serve their sentences without fear for their personal safety from other inmates.

“We are pleased with the lengthy extended sentenced imposed by the courts, as it reflects the severity and seriousness of the offence committed by Romeo Barnett as well as recognises the danger that he presents to others.”