A man considered to pose a “high risk” of committing further serious offences of violence, has received an extended prison sentence.

Jordan Scott, 24, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment with an extended licence period of three years, after carrying out an unprovoked assault, which he filmed, on a man who was unconscious at the time.

Following his arrest a few weeks later Scott also assaulted two officers who went to his aid when he suffered a fit, while on remand at Durham Prison.

Durham Crown Court heard that the initial incident, believed to have been committed just before midnight on Friday August 27, 2021, was the attack on a man who already appeared unconscious due to his level of intoxication.

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Martin Towers, prosecuting, said the victim, who had taken a mixture of cocaine and Valium, later told police he had no recollection of the incident.

He was found unconscious in Juniper Close, Hendon, Sunderland, at 12.30pm on August 28, suffering facial injuries and he only came around in hospital later.

Mr Towers said the casualty had a wound to the back of the head and was suffered superficial abrasions, plus bruising elsewhere on the head, face and left shoulder, while there were signs of him having suffered haemorrhage.

A CT scan also showed other bruising around the scalp.

Mr Towers said a witness, so concerned at video footage of the attack, came forward and reported it to police on September 14, 2021.

The victim and defendant were identified, and Scott went on to admit attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent at a plea hearing.

Just days after being admitted to custody, he was subject of a ‘Code Blue’ alert, raised when someone is suffering a fit.

Several officers went to his cell and found him on his back apparently under the influence of a substance.

A female officer tried to assist, but Scott became increasingly aggressive, trying to get off his bed, hitting and kicking out at her face.

She believed he was trying to take targeted swipes at her, and, in the continuing struggle, as he appeared to have come out of his seizure, she was repeatedly pushed into fittings of the cell.

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It caused her significant pain to her back and shoulder and she was left with nerve damage which prevented her being able to return to work for more than four months.

A male colleague, who also tried to calm and control Scott, was punched, head-butted and kicked in the struggle.

Having initially denied two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, the 24-year-old defendant, of Hendon Burn Avenue, in Hendon, Sunderland, changed plea and admitted both counts, a fortnight before his scheduled trial, in January.

The court was told the defendant has 40 convictions, 15 of them for violence, including nine cases of battery in 2018 alone, culminating in him serving a short sentence in a young offenders’ institution.

Vic Laffey, in mitigation, told the court: “He has a poor record and, at last, he now appears to be coming to terms with the fact he needs to get his act together."

Mr Laffey said the defendant’s pre-sentence report by the Probation Service highlighted his need for assistance with his substance misuse and anger management issues.

“He does have a determination to improve himself and has been on courses while in custody to assist.”

Mr Laffey said the defendant has also been receiving ongoing treatment and testing for his problem with seizures.

“But he’s at a loss explain why he behaved in the manner he did at the time and accepts these are very serious matters.”

Judge James Adkin described the assault on the already unconscious man, filmed by the defendant, himself, as, “sustained and brutal”.

The judge also referred to Scott’s comments immediately afterwards that: “It’s a cruel world”, as he acknowledged he could have killed his victim, while walking away from the scene.

Having read both the reports of the Probation Service and a psychiatrist, Judge Adkin said his behaviour was, “concerning”.

Read next:

               Chester-le-Street man left partner fearing she would die at his hands

               Jailing of man for prolonged attack among cases sentenced at Durham Crown Court in recent days

               Dangerous offender admits attempted murder of fellow Frankland inmate

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“I consider you to present a significant risk of further instances of causing serious harm.”

Passing sentence, Judge Adkin told Scott he must serve two-thirds of the custodial element, three years, before being eligible for release.

He also put in place a restraining order preventing contact or approaches to the victim of the unprovoked attack, for ten years.