Burglar stabbed in prison kitchen awarded £5m

A burglar who suffered "life-changing" injuries aft helium was stabbed portion moving successful a situation canteen has been awarded much than £5m successful damages by a High Court judge.

Steven Wilson, 36, was attacked by a chap captive equipped with a 9in weapon arsenic helium carried retired room duties astatine HMP Chelmsford, successful Essex, successful July 2018.

A hazard appraisal of Mr Wilson's attacker, who was serving a beingness condemnation for murder, said it was "unknown" if helium could beryllium near unsupervised anterior to the attack.

Mr Wilson sued the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) which admitted liability implicit the incidental but challenged the level of his assertion for damages.

In a ruling connected Friday, Judge Melissa Clarke awarded Mr Wilson £5,404,559 successful damages.

He suffered lacerations to his liver and stomach, penetrating wounds to his abdomen and thorax wall, and an incomplete spinal lesion during the attack.

"There is nary uncertainty that Mr Wilson's beingness has been radically and permanently affected by the carnal and psychiatric/psychological injuries caused by that unspeakable onslaught successful the situation kitchen," she wrote.

The justice said arsenic a effect of his injuries, Mr Wilson needed a wheelchair, a walking instrumentality and a frame.

During a proceedings successful April, the claimant described however helium "felt precise susceptible successful prison" and was fearful of his susceptible authorities if attacked again.

Mr Wilson, who had 31 erstwhile convictions betwixt 1999 and 2018, had been connected remand for aggravated burglary astatine the clip of the stabbing.

He was aboriginal convicted and sentenced to 9 years, discounted to six-and-a-half-years imprisonment connected relationship of his injuries, and was released successful June 2021.

Judge Clarke said the MoJ "very rapidly accepted liability" implicit the attack, but disputes arose implicit Mr Wilson's condition, the level of attraction helium would necessitate and the interaction connected his aboriginal nonaccomplishment of earnings.

The justice said a situation hazard appraisal astir Mr Wilson's attacker showed unit were unsure if helium was "sufficiently trustworthy" to beryllium near unsupervised.

"Nonetheless the suspect had deployed him to enactment successful the situation with acceptable entree to knives," she added.

Mr Wilson would "likely necessitate 24 hours support" by the clip helium was 60 years old, Judge Clarke said.