A prisoner savagely beat a prison guard with his own baton after smashing a television on his cell floor, a court heard
Prison guard Martin Geddes “thought he was going to die” during an attack launched by Liam John Warrener at HMP Guys Marsh, Dorset, which left him with an eight-inch gash to his head.
Bournemouth Crown Court was told how Warrener had stopped taking his mental health medication prior to the attack and was suffering from a “psychotic relapse”.
Making him the subject of an indefinite hospital order, Judge Susan Evans KC said the 27-year-old represented a “significant danger” to the public.
The attack happened on the morning of January 15, 2021, when Warrener activated the call bell from his cell at the prison in Shaftesbury.
Mr Geddes, who was on duty at the time, answered the call alone – with the court hearing the two previously had a “good relationship”.
Summarising the facts of the case, Judge Evans KC said upon the guard’s arrival Warrener said “something about needing to get out of there” before smashing his TV on the floor.
Mr Geddes told the defendant he would not be getting a replacement TV and asked him to kick the broken TV out of the cell, the court heard.
Judge Evans KC said: “Once the TV had come out, Mr Geddes had no time to do anything, you punched him as hard as you could to the side of the head.”
After a struggle, the pair ended up landing on the defendant’s bed where he struck Mr Geddes several more times.
As Mr Geddes called for help, the defendant grabbed his 29-inch baton and beat him.
In a victim personal statement read by prosecutor Paul Fairley, Mr Geddes said: “I only remember the first blow. I came to later, covered in blood.”
The guard received an eight-inch wound to his head which required ten staples.
Mr Geddes said the attack has had a “catastrophic” impact on his life, detailing how he had to leave his job in the prison service.
“I fear I will never fully recover,” he said.
Defence barrister Christiopher Wing read a statement on behalf of Warrener, who appeared via video link from Ravenswood House.
He said: “I feel horrendous about what happened and want the opportunity to apologise.
“I understand he was just going about his job and had previously been kind to me.
“I am appalled by the pain I must have caused him and his family.”
Also appearing at court was psychiatrist Dr Elliott Riordan-Eva, who said the defendant needed professional care and not prison.
“His actions were heavily influenced by his psychotic symptoms,” he said.
“Mr Warrener struggles in a custodial setting, he needs to be in a therapeutic environment.”
Recognising his threat to the public, Judge Evans KC sentenced Warrener to an indefinite hospital order.
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