A MAN has been jailed for assault, leaving a prison officer with a 'dislocated elbow' at HMP Berwyn.
Adam Smith, 31, of NFA in Rhyl, appeared before Mold Crown Court on Thursday, March 23.
He previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting a person thereby occasioning actual bodily harm at a plea and trial preparation hearing on December 2, 2022.
But, when re-arraigned in front of Judge Niclas Parry on March 23, Smith pleaded guilty to that charge, just months before a trial which would have taken place in June.
The court heard that the incident in question took place on November 7, 2021, when Smith was an inmate at Wrexham's HMP Berwyn, serving an eight-year extended sentence for wounding.
Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting, said that Smith had activated his cell bell in order to alert the prison officers.
When prison officer Maria Edwards approached his cell, he was said to initially be 'visibly upset'.
But, as she put the key in the cell door to unlock it, Smith's face changed and bore a 'smile'.
He 'came at her' and began to grab the door, which resulted in his chest 'making contact' with hers.
During the pulling of the door, with the keys on her wrist in the lock, she twisted her right arm, 'over-extending it' and dislocated her elbow.
Smith was then said to have a 'tight' grip on her leg before back-up officers arrived at the cell.
Footage of the incident was shown to the courtroom.
Prison officer Edwards was treated at Mold Community Hospital where it was confirmed that she had dislocated her elbow.
In a victim personal statement, she described the incident as 'the day that everything changed forever' for her.
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She claimed that her 'trust was shattered' and that she had experienced feelings of 'shock, anger, worthlessness and rage' following the incident.
She added that she believed that the 'fairness and consistency' she showed during her years as a prison officer was what had led Smith to try and take advantage.
William Bebb, defending Smith, said that the defendant had been left 'embarrassed at the news of the extent' of the victim's injuries.
He added that there had been a 'shift in attitude' for Smith since the incident took place.
Sentencing Smith, Judge Parry called the incident a 'pre-meditated violent attack'.
He sentenced Smith to 28 months, half of which will be served in prison. Judge Parry added that the 'bullying' of prison staff will not be tolerated.
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