A Blyth prisoner has been jailed for three years for a "brutal" attack on his cellmate at HMP Durham, which was sparked by the victim snoring too loudly.
David McLaughlin, 47, of Beaumont Street, Blyth, was serving a 10-month prison sentence for harassment when he attacked fellow inmate Stephen Corner on the morning of February 28, 2024.
Durham Crown Court heard on Thursday that McLaughlin carried out the attack while both men were locked up at the category B men's jail in County Durham.
Attack described as unprovoked and prolonged
Martin Towers, prosecuting, said there was a conflict of evidence over exactly what happened, but that Corner said he had been "snoring too loudly for the defendant's taste who began an unprovoked, and very prolonged, attack."
The court heard McLaughlin delivered "multiple blows", including stamps, to Corner. Corner also reported seeing a "shiny object being wielded" by McLaughlin, which he believed was a "makeshift blade".
Judge Advocate Thomas Mitchell said he was sure a weapon had been used, but could not say what it was. McLaughlin was not charged with any offence related to possessing an offensive weapon.
Victim left with broken arm and wounds
Corner was left with four wounds and was "covered in blood", the court heard. He also sustained a fractured arm that required surgery and a metal plate, as well as suspected fractured ribs.
In a statement, Corner said he suffered from PTSD following the attack and had received threats from other inmates "not to be a grass". He was said to have been in pain for months after the incident.
McLaughlin had 33 previous convictions for 85 offences, 14 of which were related to assaults. In 2020, he was jailed for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Sentencing and defence
Rachel Kelly, defending, said there was no medical evidence of the victim suffering from PTSD. She said McLaughlin had previously "turned his life round" when renting a property after a history of homelessness. Ms Kelly said McLaughlin is now drug and alcohol free and has PTSD and a personality disorder stemming from childhood abuse.
Judge Advocate Mitchell said the attack was "a brutal assault that was wildly disproportionate" and was "sure you used a weapon of some kind". He added: "You also tried to use sugar dissolved in hot water to carry out further injury."
McLaughlin, who appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham, was sentenced to three years in prison for unlawful wounding.
