AN inmate with, “an established track record for violence”, threw a flask full of boiling water over another prisoner in a pre-meditated attack, a court was told.

The victim was left in “excruciating” pain as the scalding water splashed across his neck, face and head, causing widespread burns, as he was walking along the association area of D-wing at Durham Prison, after collecting a meal, on November 14, 2017.

Durham Crown Court heard that a female prison officer, on duty in the association area, was caught in the firing line.

She immediately dropped her head and only her scalp area was affected.

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said the prisoner responsible, Dylan Stephen Corbett, tried to kick the scalded inmate as he went to the ground.

Other staff intervened, taking hold of Corbett, to bring the attack to a halt.

Mr Bunch said it was noticed Corbett had an implement under the waist band of his trousers, from where a toilet brush roll holder with a sharpened head was recovered, while four weeks later a razor blade was found in his cell.

The injured inmate refused to make a statement, but the prison officer said it was the worst incident to have befallen her in an 11-year career and described the sight of skin peeling from the victim’s head as, “like a scene from a horror film.”

Corbett, 25, from Hartlepool, admitted wounding with intent, assault causing actual bodily harm and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in prison.

The court heard he has served previous sentences for violence, including two attacks in other prisons.

Michael Cahill, mitigating, said: “I appreciate it must have been excruciatingly painful, but, thankfully, the injuries are not as serious as they might have been.

“The defendant knows full well he’s facing a sentence of considerable length.”

As Corbett is considered to pose a risk of causing significant harm in future, Judge Jonathan Carroll passed a determinate sentence of 12 years, with five years’ extended licence period.

The judge told Corbett: “You have an established track record for violence, and specifically for violence in prison.”

He said both prison staff and inmates have a right to work and serve sentences in a safe environment.