A jailed drug dealer attacked a prison guard when she attempted to search him for an illegal mobile phone.
Scott Beveridge, 30, fought with prison officer Ellie Robinson after she entered his cell at HMP Altcourse on September 14 2022 to inform him he was being moved to another prison. The pair fell to the floor, with Beveridge on top of Ms Robinson with his forearm pushed against her throat.
When a number of other officers ran into the cell and broke up the chaos, Beveridge became verbally abusive and shouted: "Watch what happens".
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At Liverpool Crown Court today, July 6, prosecutor David Polglase said Miss Robinson had attended Beveridge's cell on the prison's Canal Blue residential unit with a female colleague. When she unlocked the door, she noticed the dad-of-two move his hand conspicuously into his pocket, and suspected he was hiding a mobile phone.
She attempted to search him, but he pulled away. She took hold of his wrist while her colleague took hold of his arm, and a struggle broke out between the three, causing them to tumble to the floor.
Mr Polglase said: "Miss Robinson ended up face-down on the floor with the defendant on top of her, and with her colleague on top of the defendant. She felt a tightness on her neck and thought it was the defendant's forearm. She was struggling to breathe."
He said the incident, which lasted "one or two minutes", had left the officer feeling "like she was fighting for her life at one point".
Beveridge, now of HMP Garth, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and possession of a device capable of transmitting or receiving images, sounds or information by electronic communications inside a prison.
Mr O'Leary, defending, said: "He indicated through me that he expresses remorse in respect of the victim. It hasn't been his intention of assault her. He reacted poorly to a decision that was made quickly without his knowledge that he was going to be moving establishments. The possession of the mobile phone may have influenced his behaviour.
"The phone in his possession was not a smartphone. It wasn't capable of making or receiving internet calls. He used it to speak to his two young children."
Sentencing Beveridge, Judge Andrew Menary said: "Your arm became positioned across (Miss Robinson's) neck and she no doubt felt that her life was at risk. It didn't last for long, but she struggled to breathe. I accept you were not deliberately setting to strangle her, but you were deliberately causing violence. Fortunately, no serious injury was caused, but it must be the case this was a worrying incident.
"This was an attack upon a prison officer carrying out her duty within a prison establishment, where discipline and good order is critical and can be undermined by violence against officers."
He sentenced Beveridge to a total of 10 months in prison, to be added to his existing sentence for drug dealing, which was due to end in August 2024.
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