Horrifying footage has been released showing the moment a vengeful convict slashed a prison officer's throat with a Stanley knife in a premeditated attack within the walls of HMP Grampian.
Damien Ramsey, a 30-year-old convicted robber, lay in wait for officer Ian Beaton before launching the brutal assault in a corridor of the Aberdeen prison. The graphic CCTV evidence, presented to the court, shows Ramsey approaching Mr Beaton from behind and dragging the blade across his neck.
The attack, described by prosecutors as a "calculated and planned" act of revenge, left the officer with a deep 15cm laceration that required urgent hospital treatment. Thankfully, the wound missed his major arteries.
Ramsey, who had a history of violence, was subsequently sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow. He received an extended 10-year prison term, with a mandatory 5-year custodial period, and will be under supervision for a further 5 years upon his release.
This incident has sparked serious concerns about the safety of prison staff and the availability of weapons within the penal system. The court heard how Ramsey had specifically targeted Mr Beaton, holding a grudge against him.
