A TEENAGE inmate fearing attack by a fellow prisoner “got his revenge in first”, a Court heard.

Jamie Bates struck the other youth over the head with a sock containing a tap head, in the incident at Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, on March 9.

Durham Crown Court was told the victim was playing chess in the games room during the early evening association period.

Amanda Rippon, prosecuting, said he had his back turned to Bates, who was seen on internal CCTV landing the blow to the back of the other youth’s head.

She said the victim, who has since been released from his sentence, suffered a gouge injury to the back of the head, which required five stitches.

N i n e t e e n - y e a r - o l d Bates, from Runcorn, in Cheshire, has also since completed the sentence he was serving.

But he was re-arrested after failing to appear at court, in June, after he was charged over the Deerbolt attack.

Having made previous denials, Bates was to have stood trial.

But he subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding the other inmate, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Joe Hedworth, for Bates, said the admission was made on the basis that on the evening of the attack he removed the tap head from his cell sink, to use in self defence.

Mr Hedworth said Bates was terrified of the other inmate who he feared was going to attack him.

“He had made numerous threats of violence to him and he genuinely believed he was going to be assaulted,” he said.

Shortly before the attack, Mr Hedworth another inmate told Bates he would be attacked that night.

Sending Bates to a young offenders’ institution for three years, Judge Richard Lowden told him: “There was intent and you had that weapon with you that night.

“It may not be the most serious case of wounding with intent and, in context of the background, it was not the gravest.

“But nevertheless, violence in a prison environment is so much more dangerous. as it can spark off widespread disturbance.”

Judge Lowden said it would have been a fourand- a-half year sentence had Bates been convicted after a trial.