A long-term prisoner will remain behind bars for at least two more decades as a result of a series of serious assaults on fellow inmates and staff.

Kyle Roberts received a total life sentence with a minimum of 20 years to serve after admitting the attempted murder of one victim, another prisoner, at HMP Frankland, near Durham, among four attacks in prison establishments within a 14-month period.

It follows the defendant’s ‘guilty’ pleas to three different sets of offences, which including the attempted murder of the fellow inmate at Frankland, over successive hearings at Durham Crown Court, earlier this year.

The first of the incidents admitted by Roberts was a serious assault on another inmate while serving a sentence at Nottingham Prison, on December 13, 2020.

Read more: Inmate facing lengthy sentences for attacks in Durham's HMP Frankland

He pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with intent in an appearance at Nottingham Crown Court, on March 31, last year.

The subsequent incidents took place after he was transferred to Frankland, at Brasside, on the outskirts of Durham, in the aftermath of the incident at Nottingham.

Appearing by video link from HMP Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, where he is now being held, Roberts admitted the charge of attempted murder, at a hearing on January 6.

It related to an attack, on December 29, 2021, involved punching and stabbing the victim in a cell with an improvised weapon, causing injuries to his head and face.

In a further video link appearance from HMP Wakefield, a week later, the 36-year-old defendant admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent on a male prison officer at Frankland, on February 1, 2022.

He also admitted a further charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, relating to a female colleague of the other officer, arising from the same incident at Frankland.

Read more: Convicted killer has 11 years added after attack on inmate in Durham prison

Following the defendant’s admissions, last month, prosecuting counsel, Robin Patton, said the position was now reached where the defendant could be sentenced for all the previously outstanding counts.

Judge James Adkin said there were two psychiatric reports on Roberts which were prepared in relation to the Nottingham case, which would help him in his consideration of the appropriate sentence to pass in for all the offences, with a short medical update provided from a doctor dealing with the defendant during his time at HMP Wakefield.

David Outterside, representing Roberts, said the defendant was “under a doctor”, assigned to him since his move to HMP Wakefield.

“We thought it might be useful for him (the doctor) to put something in writing as to where he’s (Roberts) at, at the moment.

“It would just need to be a letter to let us know where we are at.”

Agreeing, Judge Adkin adjourned passing sentence until February 17.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Adkin said: “You have now pleaded guilty in relation to all matters and you’ll receive credit for those pleas.

“But you must anticipate that it will be a sentence of some length when you are sentenced on February 17.

“The exact type and length of that sentence will be determined then.”

Read more: County Durham News

On his appearance, also by video link from HMP Wakefield, for the sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court, where Judge Adkin has been sitting recently, Roberts received the life sentence with the 20-year minimum tariff.

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Concurrent sentences of four and eight years were imposed on him for the counts in the remaining two incidents.

It means Roberts must serve at least 20 years before being eligible to apply for parole.

Upon his eventual release he will then remain subject to licence conditions for the rest of his life and if thought to pose to the public, he could be recalled to prison.