A judge has urged a prisoner who slashed another inmate with a razor melted to a toothbrush to change his life or face the prospect of more time in jail.
Lord Beckett told Matthew Duncan, 25, that he needed to confront the reasons why he attacked fellow convict Jamie Stewart at HMP Grampian with an improvised weapon in December 2021.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard the judge tell Mr Duncan that he needed to look at ways of improving his mental health and of how to keep out of trouble.
The judge spoke as he imposed a four-year jail term on Duncan and also ordered him to be supervised for a period of four years following his release from custody.
Lord Beckett said: “The sentence I impose is one which is necessary to protect the public but it also gives you the chance to change your life, to give you a chance of a better life.
“You know there are courses that are available to you which will improve your employment prospects. You will also have the opportunity to look at ways to improve your mental health.
“I urge you to access and take advantage of these opportunities. Your life is in your hands.
“If you don’t take these opportunities, you will be brought back to this court and you will likely serve more time in custody. Do you understand?”
Duncan replied: “Yes.”
At proceedings earlier this year, the court heard how Duncan claimed he was “happy to do the time” after attacking Mr Stewart.
Duncan claimed others had been winding him up, calling him a ‘beast’
The court heard how Duncan attacked Mr Stewart at the prison in Peterhead with a toothbrush with a razor blade melted to it.
At that hearing, Lord Beckett said: “I hope you are open to trying to see if you can find a different way to live.”
Duncan, who was born in Aberdeen, admitted assaulting Stewart at the prison on December 6 last year to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of his life by repeatedly striking him on the head with a bladed object.
Prosecutor William Frain-Bell said Duncan has previous convictions for offences including assault, housebreaking, drugs and motoring offences.
The advocate depute said that in July last year at Aberdeen Sheriff Court he was sentenced to three years imprisonment with a 12-month supervised release order for assault and robbery.
He said that Mr Stewart was not aware of issues between Duncan and him but on the morning of the attack he had gone to a nursing station to get medication when he felt a blow and thought he had been punched.
‘He felt the only thing he could do to protect himself was to strike first’
A prison officer realised that Duncan had something in his hand and was making stabbing and slashing motions. He shouted to him to stop and staff intervened to halt the attack.
The victim was found to have a slash wound to his face and was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment but will be permanently scarred.
Duncan later claimed that others were winding him up and calling him “a beast” and maintained he was happy to do the time.
Defence solicitor advocate Michael Burnett said Duncan was not a sex offender but his position was other prisoners were “out to do him harm”.
He said his mother abused illicit substances and his father abused alcohol and Duncan was “left to his own devices” and began getting into trouble at a young age. He said Duncan also began using drugs.
On Thursday, Mr Burnett said that at the time of the offence, Duncan thought he had no other option but to attack Mr Stewart.
He added: “He felt the only thing he could do to protect himself was to strike first. He felt like he had no other option.”
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