A PRISONER who slashed a fellow inmate's face leaving him permanently scarred has been jailed for ten years.

Daniel Illingworth had to be grappled to the floor by prisoner officers following the incident during a game of pool at HMP Durham in October 2016.

Newcastle Crown Court heard yesterday how the 27-year-old had attacked the inmate for no apparent reason with a blade leaving him needing plastic surgery.

The incident followed the discovery of a machete type weapon in his cell a month before.

Prison officers found the two-and-a-half foot instrument under his mattress. It had been crafted from a bed spring.

Illingworth, of Beaconsfield Terrace, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, had been moved to the prison from HMP Northumberland where he also attacked an innate while on a minibus.

The attack, which happened in November 2015, involved an innate he did not know with Illingworth stabbing him in the neck as he looked out of the window.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said a struggle ensued and Illingworth said: "It's been coming for a while, you all knew it was going to happen; I don't know him but I don't like the look of him."

Illingworth, who was serving a ten-year sentence for robbery and attempted robbery, was searched and two sharp glass instruments from a tv screen were found.

The victim suffered a slash injury which had to be glued.

Talking about the incident at HMM Durham, Mr Dryden said the victim had been left traumatised by the attack and found it difficult to explain to his young son why he had the scar.

David Comb, mitigating, said his client had been "blighted" by heroin since he was 15 but did realise the "gravity" of his actions.

Judge Stephen Earl sentenced Illingworth to ten years in prison for a charge of wounding, which will be served consecutively with his current sentence.

He also received another seven years, to be served concurrantly, for three more charges including unlawful wounding and possession of a knife in prison.