Levi Weekes pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker after kicking out at prison officer Steven Elford, who suffered a fractured spine, after a sniffer dog indicated suspicious drug activity in his cell at HMP Parc
A prisoner left a prison officer with a fractured spine after lashing out while complaining about conditions inside the jail. The officer attempted to restrain the inmate but accidentally bent backwards, sustaining the devastating injury.
Levi Weekes, 25, was serving time at HMP Parc in Bridgend and was furious at the prospect of being placed in a cell with another inmate who was using the drug spice, after a sniffer dog flagged suspicious activity in his cell.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard that a search of the defendant’s cell had been scheduled for the morning of 2 April 2024.
As staff attempted to move Weekes to an alternative cell, he kicked out at prison officer Steven Elford, striking him in the right leg above the knee. The defendant then tried to barge past Mr Elford, prompting the officer to grab him and wrap him in a bear hug, reports Wales Online.
During the struggle, Mr Elford was forced backwards at the waist, and he recalled hearing a snapping and cracking sensation.
The victim described feeling “indescribable pain” which was “off the scale”.
His colleagues tried to subdue Weekes, who continued to flail his arms wildly, as they heard Mr Elford screaming out in agony. Mr Elford was rushed to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, where doctors discovered he had sustained a fracture to his vertebrae just below the chest. The injury left him unable to work for a considerable period of time.
Weekes, of no fixed abode, subsequently pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker. The court was told he has 21 previous convictions, including offences of racially and religiously aggravated assault, battery and assaulting emergency workers.
In mitigation, Thomas Stanway said his client did not envisage or intend Mr Elford to suffer the injuries that he suffered. The defence barrister stated that his client had complaints regarding conditions within the prison, which was in special measures at the time of the assault, and was worried about being housed with a prisoner who was smoking spice.
Mr Stanway said his client did not feel his complaints were being heard and he “jumped on the bars” in order to speak to the prison governor to raise his concerns.
The court heard that the defendant grew up in the care system and had been subjected to serious attacks while in prison, including being stabbed following his transfer to HMP Swaleside in Kent.
Recorder Greg Bull sentenced Weekes to a total of 12 months imprisonment.
