An agitated inmate serving a life sentence for murder attacked a prison officer, putting him in a tight choke hold from which the victim feared he would not survive.

Although colleagues at Frankland Prison, Durham, eventually managed to release the officer from the grip of Robert Wainwright, his body had begun to go limp due to asphyxiation.

Durham Crown Court heard that although his physical injuries were not too severe, the attack has had a substantial psychological effect on the experienced officer, who has suffered with anxiety and depression since returning to work.

The court heard that Wainwright, then 26, from Bradford, was convicted of murder in March 2020, and was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years to spend behind bars.

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He was one of three drug dealers who killed a 20-year-old man in what was described as a "sadistic, prolonged attack", after he was lured to an industrial unit in Bradford late on June 30, 2019.

Early in 2021, Wainwright was serving his sentence in Frankland, the top security prison on the outskirts of Durham.

The court heard that on March 26 that year Wainwright asked for cleaning equipment and then wanted to speak to a custody manager.

Amid attempts to get him to go back to his cell he took off his watch and tried to land a punch on one officer, who was caught with only a glancing blow.

But Wainwright then took the officer in a head lock, leaving him struggling to breathe, before his colleagues came to his aid.

The defendant, now 30, denied assault causing actual bodily harm, but was found guilty in his absence after a three-day trial at the court last week.

Unrepresented at court, he was produced on video link from nearby Durham Prison for a sentencing hearing on Friday (August 25).

Given the chance to speak, he claimed he did not put the officer, “in a choker”, although he said had he been at court he would have “gone guilty’, had he had, “the right interview”.

He generally claimed he had been treated unfairly.

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Passing sentence, Recorder Tom Moran told Wainwright: “For reasons not clear to me, you were agitated, spoiling for trouble that day.”

Recorder Moran said the fact that the defendant took his watch off as officers tried to lead him back to his cell was an indication some form of violence was about to take place.

“You used force to put him in a headlock, leaving him struggling to breathe and it took a number of officers to get you off him.

“This was an experienced prison officer and clearly he’s been very badly shaken by this assault.

“Fortunately, the physical injuries were relatively minor, but the psychological harm has been much worse.

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“He’s referred himself to occupational health, suffering with moderate anxiety and severe depression.

“He’s been plunged into a very dark place mentally.”

Recorder Moran imposed a 27-month prison sentence which will only begin at the conclusion of the defendant’s sentence for the murder, of at least 25 years imprisonment.