A LONG-SERVING inmate has admitted attacking a prison officer as he neared the end of his jail sentence.

Christopher Phillips is accused of grabbing and ripping at the ear of the officer who was attempting to restrain him during an incident at Frankland Prison, Durham, on March 17, last year.

He appeared at Durham Crown Court charged with unlawful wounding in December, when the court was told it was an alleged pre-meditated attack in protest at a proposed move to another prison.

A trial date was set for this week, but, appearing at a further plea hearing today (Wednesday March 23), the 40-year-old defendant, of Market Drayton, in Shropshire, admitted the charge.

His counsel, Stephen Hamill, requested preparation of a psychiatric report on the defendant before he is sentenced.

Agreeing, Judge Bob Spragg asked if the defendant had been recalled to prison or if he was on remand in custody.

Read more: Murderer threw boiling water at Durham prison guard

The court heard the defendant was serving an extended sentence of ten years at the time of the attack, but it has since been completed.

Mr Hamill said his client was recalled to prison in December, but the sentence expired in February, adding that he was now simply on remand in custody.

Judge Spragg told Phillips that, “all options” remain open to the court, when he is sentenced on April 27, following preparation of the report.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054