Inmate attacked by group with pool cue at HMP Deerbolt

Luke Ibbotson, Thomas Nicholson and Jayain Schmidt were three of four inmates who carried out the group attack on their 22-year-old fellow prisoner, who was caught by surprise while playing pool during an association period at HMP Deerbolt, near Barnard Castle.

Durham Crown Court heard that the establishment, formerly solely a young offenders’ institution, now takes older inmates, including two of the attackers.

Jonathan Crawford, prosecuting, said the incident, shortly before 6pm on November 29, last year, was captured from different angles on internal CCTV footage, which was played to the court.

The defendants gathered near an adjacent table to their victim and Ibbotson launched the first blow, striking the victim to the back of the head with a pool cue.

Mr Crawford said Nicholson then hit him repeatedly with another pool cue, with Schmidt and a fourth inmate, Jordan Everington, joining in with punches to his head and torso.

Read more: Officer helping bereaved Deerbolt inmate suffered unprovoked attack

The victim retreated to a metal gate at the rear of the association area as he tried to avoid further punishment.

Mr Crawford said such was the force of the initial blows by Ibbotson and Nicholson that the pool cues they used were both broken.

Prison staff immediately ran to break up the violence and usher away the assailants.

The injured inmate suffered a 4cm laceration to the back of his head which was treated with medical glue and staples.

Mr Crawford said the victim would not support the prosecution.

Ibbotson, 22, and 27-year-old Nicholson admitted unlawful wounding, while Schmidt, who turned 20 earlier this week, admitted a charge of affray.

Mr Crawford said at the time, Ibbotson, who has ten convictions for 16 offences, was serving an extended sentence for a screwdriver robbery in Billingham, in August 2020.

Read more: Sunderland prison officer caught taking contraband into HMP Deerbolt

Nicholson was serving a five-year sentence for wounding another man with intent with a claw hammer, in Newcastle, in February 2021, while Schmidt was serving a sentence for four assaults on emergency workers, in Sheffield, in June last year, having had a previous conviction for possession of a weapon.

Mr Crawford said it appeared Ibbotson and Nicholson played the leading role in the Deerbolt incident, arming themselves with pool cues, with their two accomplices then joining in the group attack.

Johnathan Piggford, for Nicholson, from Blakelaw, Newcastle, said due to the change in the age range of inmates detained at Deerbolt, his client found himself there at the time of the attack.

“He was a stranger to that prison and had been there for only two months.

“He and his co-accused ‘looked after each other’, and so it was a case of misguided loyalties.

“He was not aware of any incident that was going to take place, but that cuts both ways, as he was prepared to get involved.

“He struck the other inmate a couple of times, but then disengaged and stood aside when a female prison officer separated them.

“He spent seven days in segregation and apologised to the victim after that and has been in no further trouble.”

Jonathan Walker, for Ibbotson, said he received an sentence of seven years and two months, with an extended licence period of two years and ten months, at Teesside Crown Court in March last year for the 2020 robbery in Billingham.

Mr Walker said his client is still young, at 22, but does not stand to be released until mid-to-late 2028.

“That was an enormous sentence for such a young man.

“He had no enthusiasm to become involved in the incident.”

Jamie Adams, for Schmidt, presented letters to Recorder Tom Moran from the defendant and his parents, who apologised for the “chaos” caused by their son in recent years.

“He has an ADHD diagnosis but was without medication.

“He was released on May 30, this year, after a long sentence of two-and-a-half years but got a fixed recall and has been determined to get it right since then.

“He travelled from Sheffield for an earlier hearing on August 14 and was shocked to have been remanded in custody.

“He’s now the only one of the group not serving a sentence.

“He deeply regrets having become involved in that attack.

“But it has been a turning point for him as there has been no further incidents.”

Recorder Moran told the defendants: “You all took part in an assault on another prisoner.

“You were all in association, playing pool and table tennis.

“You, Ibbotson, started it, arming yourself with a pool cue and hitting him over the back of the head.

“Nicholson, you enthusiastically joined in with a cue of your own and Schmidt also joined in, punching and kicking.

“The pool cues were broken, such was the force used, causing a 4cm laceration to the back of the injured party’s head.

“You all have convictions for violence to different degrees.

“The sentences I pass have to reflect the need to maintain discipline in prison.

Read next:

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Deerbolt riot: History of incidents at Barnard Castle institution

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He said it was “inevitable” that the sentences would be consecutive for those still serving earlier sentences.

Recorder Moran imposed an extra 12 months on the sentence being served by Ibbotson, a further ten months for Nicholson, while he passed a six-month young offenders’ institution sentence on Schmidt.

The fourth inmate involved, 20-year-old Everington, who remains in prison, will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on September 21.