Teen sentenced over boiling water attack on officer

A teenager who left a prison officer with life-changing injuries in an attack using boiling water has been handed an 18-month detention and training sentence.

Long-serving prison officer Martin Fowler had brought breakfast to the 17-year-old detainee at Wetherby Young Offender Institution on 14 June when the teen threw boiling sugared water on him from a kettle.

Fowler suffered blistering burns which scarred his upper body and caused him to have to take three months off work.

The defendant, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared for sentencing by video link at Leeds Youth Court on Wednesday, after previously admitting causing actual bodily harm.

Sentencing the teenager, Judge Daniel Curtis told him: "There is little doubt this is an extremely unpleasant offence which caused a time-served prison officer life-changing injuries – injuries that will last him, no doubt, for some considerable time [and] inflicted upon him with preparation and thought."

The officer was targeted in the unexpected attack despite having helped the young person when he first came into detention.

Sugar had been added to the water thrown onto Fowler in a bid to make the injuries potentially worse, the court heard.

The judge said: "This is a prison officer who, on your own admissions and in your apology letter, you say helped you when you came into prison.

"This was a prison officer of 17 years. This will not be the first time he has been assaulted and sadly it probably will not be the last before he retires from that line of work."

Two female officers who were standing either side of Fowler felt a "stinging sensation" as the water also hit them on the arms, but left no injury, the prosecution said.

In a statement heard by the court, Fowler said: "If it had gone in my face and eyes, things could have been different.

"I was just glad it didn't happen to me and it didn't happen to a female officer."

The officer said parts of his skin had changed colour and while it did not cause him physical pain or discomfort it was a "lasting reminder of what happened to me".

Thirteen empty packets of sugar were found in a bin bag when the teenager's room was searched, the court was told.

The teenager later wrote a letter to the officer, in which said he was "truly sorry".

It added: "I like you, because you helped me when I first came into prison.

"I apologise for doing what I did. I did not mean to cause you harm.

"The previous day I got group assaulted and I was still in the heightened and emotional state.

"I couldn't go to sleep that night because my head was hurting from the beating. I was not thinking clearly.

"I look back at my actions with regret. I hope you can forgive me for this mistake and hope to make it up in future."

The prosecution said the teenager was serving a 35-month sentence with an extension and there had been a rehabilitation order that was not complied with.

No further details were given about the offences.

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