A teenager who threw boiling water over a prison officer at a young offender institution has received an extra 18 months in custody.
Martin Fowler, an officer with 17 years’ service, suffered life-changing injuries in the attack. It happened on 14 June last year as he delivered breakfast to the 17-year-old’s cell.
The youth threw boiling sugared water from a kettle over him. Mr Fowler suffered blistering burns that left scars on his upper body. He needed three months off work.
Two female officers stood on either side of Mr Fowler at the time. The water also struck both of them on the arms and stung. Neither was left with any injury.
The teenager had earlier admitted causing actual bodily harm. Leeds Youth Court gave him an additional 18-month detention and training sentence.
Judge Daniel Curtis said the attack showed planning and had left the officer with lasting harm. “There is little doubt this is an extremely unpleasant offence which caused a prison officer life-changing injuries – injuries that will last him, no doubt, for some considerable time [and] inflicted upon him with preparation and thought,” he said.
The judge noted that Mr Fowler had helped the teenager when he first arrived in detention. The youth had accepted this himself, both in his own admissions and in a letter of apology.
He pointed out that the officer had served for 17 years. “This will not be the first time he has been assaulted and sadly it probably will not be the last before he retires from that line of work,” the judge said.
The teenager later wrote to the officer. In the letter he said he was “truly sorry”.
Prosecutors said the youth was already serving a 35-month sentence. That sentence had been extended after an earlier incident. He also had a rehabilitation order, which he had not complied with.
