'Dangerous' thug gets life for attack on sex offender

Anthony Elliot, 18, carried out the assault in a young offenders' institution where he had been serving a sentence for leading a riot in a children's secure unit.

He wanted to kill fellow inmate Steven Goddard, a child rapist, and repeatedly smashed him over the head with the pool balls during a recreation period. Officers were able to halt the attack and save Goddard's life.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, the judge, Lord Bracadale, told Elliot, from the Isle of Bute, that he already had a bad criminal record and unless he addressed his behaviour he was likely to spend the rest of his life in custody.

"You attacked another inmate with a makeshift weapon and repeatedly hit him with it, putting his life in danger," he said. "You stopped only because officers intervened. Otherwise, on your own admission, you would have beaten him to death."

He added: "It is clear you are a very dangerous person. I am satisfied the nature of this offence and the circumstances in which it was committed demonstrate there is a likelihood, if at liberty, you will seriously endanger the lives and well-being of the public at large. I make, as I am required by law to do, an order for lifelong restriction."

In 2008, Elliot received a four-year sentence for mobbing and rioting. The charge related to a disturbance at St Mary's Kenmure secure unit in Bishop-briggs, near Glasgow, when a group of about 16 youths caused 200,000 of damage. Windows were smashed, rooms ransacked and fires started, and a member of staff sustained a cut to his ear when he confronted the knife-wielding Elliot.

In September last year, Elliot and Goddard, 18, were playing pool at separate tables in a recreation area of Polmont Young Offenders' Institution, near Falkirk, when Elliot put two balls into a sock. He approached Goddard from behind and struck him across the back of the head. Goddard slumped on to the pool table and Elliot continued the assault, striking him several more times when he fell to the floor. He also stamped on his head and kicked him as he lay motionless and unable to defend himself.

Officers moved in and restrained Elliot, and Goddard was taken to hospital. He had cuts to the scalp and had developed a blood clot on the brain.

Goddard had been given a five-year sentence for repeatedly raping a young girl and sexually abusing her three brothers.

Elliot told police his intention had been to "take him right out, man" and that if he had not been stopped, he would have killed Goddard.

He admitted a charge of attempted murder.

The defence counsel, Susan Duff, said: "He knows there are aspects of his behaviour which are not acceptable to society, and he will have an opportunity to address these issues in the coming years."

Lord Bracadale heard that Elliot's earliest release date from current sentences was March 2014, and the judge ordered that he serve at least four years and six months from that date before he would be able to apply for parole under the order for lifelong restriction.z