Convicted killer given extra time after attacking prison officer over an Xbox

A HMP Whitemoor inmate's been given extra time after attacking a prison officer.

Author: Abi SimpsonPublished 2nd Feb 2021

A convicted killer "flew into a rage" according to Cambridgeshire Police and attacked a prison officer at HMP Whitemoor after discovering his Xbox had been confiscated.

Andre Joseph, who's 28, was serving a 16-year sentence for manslaughter following the death of a man in Enfield in 2017.

The prison had been put into lockdown on 11th January 2020 due to an incident.

It meant that Joseph was confined to his cell when officers began searching it as part of standard protocol.

Police say he became aggressive and as a result was removed from his cell while the search was completed.

When he returned he noticed a number of items, including the Xbox and several DVDs, outside his cell.

Officers say an argument then began as Joseph was adamant he was entitled to the games console.

As officers tried to restrain him, he picked up a plastic kettle and hit one of them in the face with it, leaving a deep laceration down his face and across his nose.

The force says he was eventually restrained and taken to the segregation unit.

Joseph, who has no known previous address, admitted to causing grievous bodily harm without intent and was ordered to complete an extra six months in prison on top of his existing sentence.

DC Shelly Reeve said: "Joseph's behaviour on that day was despicable. He attacked someone who was simply trying to do his job.

"Staff were under increased pressure due to the earlier incident which led to the lockdown and to attack one of them in this way was simply unacceptable."

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