Prison Officer Attacked by Spice-Using Inmate at HMP Oakwood, Forced to Quit Job
A female prison officer was violently attacked by a convicted robber who was under the influence of spice after she attempted to assist him with obtaining a new television, according to court proceedings. The incident occurred at HMP Oakwood in Featherstone, near Wolverhampton, on January 17 of last year, leaving the officer with significant physical and emotional trauma that ultimately led her to resign from her position.
Details of the Assault at HMP Oakwood
Carl Moses, aged 53, launched the assault on the officer during a routine interaction. The victim had initially met Moses earlier in the day as staff were organizing prisoners into new cells. Later, when she returned to his cell, Moses informed her that he did not have a television. Upon checking on him again, she observed through the observation panel that he was talking to himself and had white residue around his mouth, indicating possible drug use.
The officer, accompanied by a female colleague, decided to enter the cell to check on Moses after he failed to respond to their calls. As they approached, Moses lunged at them, grabbing the victim and initiating a physical altercation. He swung and punched at the officers, elbowing the victim in the head during the scuffle. Despite pressing her personal alarm for backup, staff were mistakenly directed to the wrong area of the prison, prolonging the incident.
Injuries and Impact on the Victim
The attack resulted in the officer sustaining multiple injuries, including bruising to her left hand, a cut on her right hand, bruising to her collar bone, and bruising to her right eye. In a victim impact statement, she described how the one-inch cut on her hand serves as a constant reminder of the traumatic event, stating she was fighting for her life that day.
The assault has had profound effects on her life, leading to flashbacks, mental health issues, and sleepless nights. Financially, quitting her job has impacted her ability to secure a mortgage, forcing her to seek alternative employment. She expressed that her role as a prison officer was fulfilling and something she had wanted to pursue long-term.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
At Stafford Crown Court, it was revealed that Moses has a lengthy criminal record, with 45 convictions for 119 separate offences, including violent crimes and robbery. He was already serving a substantial prison sentence at the time of the attack. Moses pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker at an earlier hearing.
During sentencing, His Honour Judge Avik Mukherjee noted Moses's history of violence and his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, which he had been self-medicating with spice. The judge emphasized that the officer was performing a difficult job under challenging circumstances and that her resignation was a direct result of Moses's actions.
The initial sentence of nine months was reduced to six months due to Moses's early guilty plea and further reduced to four months because of delays in proceedings. Moses appeared via video link wearing a dark grey jumper during the court session.
Defence and Mitigating Factors
Moses's defence counsel, Aaron Lyn-Kew, stated that his client felt remorse for his actions and had since turned his life around, no longer using drugs. Lyn-Kew explained that Moses had resorted to spice as a coping mechanism after his television was removed, which was extremely important to him. The issue regarding the television's ownership was cited as a contributing factor to the incident.
This case highlights the dangers faced by prison staff and the severe consequences of drug use within correctional facilities, underscoring the need for adequate support and safety measures for workers in such environments.
