A POLICE killer bit one of the prison officers who went into his cell to remove a ligature placed round his neck.

Nicholas Walters, who was serving a life sentence at Frankland Prison, Durham, last September, resisted the officers, punching and slapping them, threatening to, “bite their faces off”.

Leeds Crown Court was told the prison staff tried to put restraints on him, but he grabbed one of the officer’s genitals and bit him on the right forearm and on the leg.

Chris Wood, prosecuting, said Walters was taken to the floor and left in his cell while the officers safely exited.

Dr Wood said the injured officer was caused “pain and discomfort” and sought medical attention, but although the bites had not pierced his skin, there was bruising.

The inmate subsequently bragged about the circumstances of the incident and the court was told it was not the only disciplinary issue in Walters’ time at Frankland.

Dr Wood said following his transfer to Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire, he spat at officers five times in incidents in April and May, leaving them fearing for their health.

The defendant, now 40, from Birmingham, was given the life sentence after being convicted of murdering a police officer, at Nottingham Crown Court, in December 2002.

He drove a stolen car at a police motorcyclist, who was pursuing him, in Birmingham, in October, 2001.

His life sentence has a minimum tariff of 18 years, but the additional sentence for the most recent offending in prison will effect any potential date when his release may be considered by the Parole Board.

Walters admitted six counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said he hoped to serve the latter stages of his sentence nearer to Birmingham, and was moved to Wakefield from Frankland as part of that transition.

“Regarding the incidents at Wakefield he has always maintained there was a degree of prevarication from both sides.”

Adding a total of 30-months to Walters’ existing sentence, putting back any potential parole hearing, Judge Bayliss told him: “Whatever the circumstances, offences of this sort are always unjustifiable.

“It matters not why, in this case, you were in prison, but, inevitably, the sentence I impose will effect your release.

“That is the consequence of behaving the way you behaved.”