A caged Dundee sex offender has been handed more time behind bars after he assaulted a fellow Perth Prison inmate with a weaponised toilet brush.
Kyle Leonard struck victim Thomas Henderson with the sharpened loo cleaner about a dozen times during the frenzied attack.
The 25-year-old then kicked a female prison officer in the head as she tried to separate the pair.
Leonard, who was jailed in 2017 after he admitted sexual activity with children, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court via video link on Monday, having earlier admitted two charges of assault and having an offensive weapon.
Sheriff Euan Duthie jailed Leonard for 20 months after viewing CCTV of the shock 2021 incident.
Jail is ‘inevitable’
The sheriff told Leonard: “This was an appalling attack.
“Members of prison staff are entitled to work in relative safety.
“You conduct was entirely unacceptable and I am satisfied that a custodial sentence is inevitable.”
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson told the court that the attack happened on the third floor of the jail’s B-Hall just before 9.30am on September 25, last year.
“At this time, Mr Henderson and another witness walked towards the accused’s cell,” she said.
“The accused immediately exited his cell and in his right hand he had a toilet brush shaft which was sharpened to a point.
“He pushed against Mr Henderson and struck him to the head and body with the brush 10 to 12 times.”
Leonard dropped the weapon and began repeatedly punching Mr Henderson on his head and body.
Victim had wounds on face
“Diane Kelsey, a prison officer, saw the commotion on the landing and rushed towards both men to try and separate them,” said Ms Hodgson.
“She took hold of the accused and all parties fell to the ground.
“The accused kicked her twice on the head before being restrained.”
Leonard was thrown into isolation at the jail’s segregation unit, while Henderson was transferred to Perth Royal Infirmary.
“At 11am, police attended at the hospital to speak to Mr Henderson, who was being guarded by prison staff,” said the fiscal depute.
“Mr Henderson immediately told officers he was not giving any statement and would not be discussing what happened.
“He was seen to have wounds on his face, with redness on his face, head and body.”
Ms Hodgson told the court: “Ms Kesley sustained bruising on her upper arm and her left forearm and back were sore.”
We reported earlier this summer of a worrying rise in make-shift weapons at HMP Perth.
Data released by the Scottish Prison Service revealed the number of shivs, blunt force tools and other improvised items recovered from inmates at the Tayside jail soared by 50% in 2021.
