Notorious teen slashed inmate 'as warning to prison bullies'

Published on Wednesday 27 August 2008 13:27

AN inmate branded the most dangerous teenager in Scotland viciously slashed a fellow prisoner to send out a warning to jail bullies, a court heard today.

Darren Cornelius, 18, who is already serving a form of life sentence, had 45 months added to the minimum time he must serve before he can apply for release.

At an earlier hearing he admitted the attack on Ryan Gandy, also 18, in Edinburgh's Saughton prison when both were on remand there in July last year.

The slashing with a make-shift weapon will leave Mr Gandy scarred for life. He suffered a three inch wound to his right cheek, running from ear to mouth.

Cornelius, from Edinburgh, returned to the dock to be sentenced today.

Solicitor advocate Ray McMenamin, defending, said: "He is a young man. There may yet be some hope for him."

He said Cornelius carried out the attack to take a stand against what he perceived to be bullying treatment carried out against him.

Cornelius is the youngest person to be made the subject of an Order for Lifelong Restriction, a kind of life sentence designed to ensure he remains under close supervision until his dying day, earning him the title of the country's most dangerous teenager.