Prisoner slashed another inmate in a row over 'cream cakes' at Low Moss
A prisoner slashed another inmate with a razor and left him scarred for life in a row over a cream cake at Low Moss.
A prisoner slashed another inmate with a razor and left him scarred for life in a row over a cream cake at Low Moss.
At the High Court in Glasgow 38-year-old Christopher Kane was convicted of assaulting William Douglas to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement at Low Moss prison, Bishopbriggs, on March 21, 2015.
The court heard that Kane attacked Mr Douglas from behind as he served food in the pantry at around 4pm.
His face was ripped open on the right side from the side of his lip to his neck. The jury heard that Mr Douglas's teeth could be seen through the horrific slash wound
Afterwards callous Kane shouted at his victim, who was holding a towel to his face: “That's the last time you don't give me a cream cake.”
At the prison cream cakes are offered as a treat every three weeks.
Judge Lord Clark told Kane: “The jury has found you guilty of assaulting Mr Douglas by the use of a razor. This was a brutal and vicious attack. You came up from behind and and slashed him.”
The attack, which was described by advocate depute Bernard Ablett, prosecuting, as “ Cowardly and vicious,' was captured on the jail's CCTV cameras.
Kane, who represented himself, could plainly be seen carrying out the assault, but he claimed it was done by a 'mystery man' who was hidden from the cameras.
The weapon was never found, but police believe it could have been wrapped in toilet paper and flushed down the loo minutes after the attack.
In his closing speech to the jury Kane said: “Willie told you he and I are friends. That's the truth and friends don't do that to each other. His face is f***ed for life.”
In evidence Mr Douglas, who was a trustie who served food to other prisoners at mealtimes, claimed he didn't see his assailant because he was attacked from behind.
He was asked by Mr Ablett: “Immediately after you were slashed you were trying to get hold of Mr Kane,” and he replied: “When something happens to you you don't think. I had just been slashed and he came round like he was going for us. He was coming round and I've thought it was him.”
Mr Douglas was then asked who slashed him and replied: “Someone obviously slashed me. I don't know who it was.”
When he was shown the CCTV footage of the attacker he replied: “I can't make his face out.”
A police officer told the jury there was a culture of not “grassing' in prisons.
The jury heard that Kane has a history of violence and was jailed for six years in 2009 for biting off his father's ear during a violent row in Port Glasgow while he was on home leave from prison.
Kane has also served a seven year and a three-year sentence.
Diane O'Hara, who was the clinical manager at Low Moss prison in Bishopbriggs, said she rushed to help the injured man and heard Kane saying: “That's the last time you don't give me a cream cake.”
Ms O'Hara was asked to describe the injury and said: “There was a wound from the side of his lip tojust under his ear and the right hand side. It was a typical slash injury.”
She said as she treated Mr Douglas there was a lot of shouting going on in the prison hall and
she heard Kane say to his victim: 'That's the last time you don't give me a cream cake or 'that's the last time you give away my cream cake' or something like that.”
Ms O'Hara told the jury that she has worked in prisons for 12 years and had come across around 10 slashings in that time.
Lord Clark deferred sentence on Kane until next month and ordered a risk assessment to evaluate the danger he poses to the public.