Inmate 'singled out for violent attack'

A VIOLENT disturbance at a North East jail ended with an inmate suffering multiple stab wounds. The prisoner was targeted in his cell in a pre-planned and coordinated attack by a group of men.

- By ROB KENNEDY

A court heard some of them had armed themselves with weapons, including tuna tins in a sock, and a makeshift knife known as a “chiv” was found afterwards.

Five men had previously been sentenced for their roles in the violent disorder at HMP Northumberland and now Mark Hall, Scott Steanson and Jack Miles have all been given prison sentences for their roles in it.

All three of them and the others involved were inmates at the prison’s house block 7, where the victim was also being held, when the attack happened at around 1.45pm on November 20 2022.

Sentencing them at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Edward Bindloss said: “This violence was pre-planned, weapons were made in advance, such as tuna tins in socks and a metal chiv was found in the toilet afterwards although it’s not clear who made it.”