Slashing of inmate adds to assault toll at Addiewell

A PRISONER suffered serious cuts to his body after he was attacked by a fellow inmate at Addiewell prison.

It is understood the prisoner was left with deep slashes to his chest and arms and lacerations to his face after he was attacked in the private prison on Wednesday night.

It is believed he was struck with a crude weapon that had been fashioned from a glass jar or a similar implement. The man, believed to be in his 30s, was treated at the ERI.

Today, an Addiewell spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on individual prisoners.”

It is understood that the incident is now the subject of an internal investigation. Despite being one of Scotland’s most modern prisons, HMP Addiewell has seen several incidents of violence since it opened in December 2008.

Prisoners at the £130 million West Lothian jail enjoy flatscreen televisions and en-suite showers.

Despite these, over the past 18 months officers recorded 37 prisoner-on-staff assaults, and 75 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults at the private jail, run by Sodexo Justice Services.

An incident in December last year saw one inmate throw scalding water over another who was allegedly bullying him, and stab him in the back twice with a makeshift weapon. The jail was also the scene of a major disturbance in October 2009 which saw seven prison officers assaulted, while damage in Lomond B wing was estimated at around £5000.

Four prisoners were later given jail sentences totalling 17 years yesterday for their part in the disturbance.

Police confirmed they had been called to the prison in connection with a fight, but said neither party was making a complaint and, as a result, no charges were made.

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