A “troubled” fire starter kicked, pinched, punched and bit prison staff, often when they were preventing her from self-harm, a court heard.
Kari Johannessen made improvised weapons intending to use them on staff at Low Newton Prison, Durham, many of whom had been supportive of her.
Durham Crown Court heard that until August last year 38-year-old Johannessen had virtually no criminal record but since then has spent time in HMP Styal in Cheshire, before being transferred to Low Newton in January.
Due to previous incidents in prison, she received a further 26-week sentence in February this year.
Emily Jo Willis, prosecuting, said between January 22 and last month the defendant committed several attacks on staff at Low Newton, mostly causing minor injuries, often when they were trying to prevent her from self harm.
She also set fire to her cell in early June and had to be forcibly removed.
Following an incident in the prison’s care and support unit in mid-June an officer suffered bite injuries and had to be given a tetanus injection, as well as undergo testing to check there was no long-term infection.
Miss Willis read a series of victim statements from the staff attacked by Johannessen who spoke of their frustration at her “troublesome” attitude particularly given the lengths they went to support her while in prison.
She admitted one count of unauthorised possession in a prison setting of a knife or article with a blade or point, relating to a fashioned sharpened handle to a wooden teaspoon.
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But she also admitted nine counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.
Recorder Mark Giuliani noted that while serving her sentences in HMPs Styal and Low Newton she has spent some time in psychiatric units.
“She’s clearly got mental health difficulties and there is reference in the reports of an emotionally unstable personality disorder.”
Chris Morrison, for the defendant, said: “Barring a drunk and disorderly conviction in 2007, she had no criminal convictions until August last year.
“She’s a very troubled individual.
“She has poor self-control and low self-worth which are both features that come into play here.
“But her mental health state is the main problem.
“As seen with these uncontrolled bouts and confrontations, they make it clear her current mental health state make her very difficult to manage by the various institutions.
“It’s clear there will be an intermittent history of admissions and re-admissions to various mental health institutions.
“The plan, on her release, is to section her to some form of supervised accommodation.”
Recorder Giuliani imposed a further 34-week prison sentence, which he said, with time served, would result in her release in about three months.
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