A PRISONER serving a life sentence for murder threw boiling water laced with disinfectant over another inmate in an unprovoked racist attack, a court was told.
Paul James Wainwright,30, was handed an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) after Preston Crown Court heard he had violent urges he did not understand.
On March 18 Wainwright was seen on CCTV throwing the bucket of boiling water over Marcus Williams, a fellow inmate on D Wing, HMP Garth, Ulnes Walton.
He was shouting racist abuse at the inmate and stabbed him with a pen.
A prison officer heard the commotion and arrived to find Williams on his hands and knees with Wainwright trying too stamp on his head.
Wainwright was restrained further down the corridor, saying to officers: “I’ve done it again. Why did I do it?”
Williams was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he spent two weeks as an in patient.
He had seven per cent burns to his body and had to have an operation under general anaesthetic and physiotherapy to his arm.
The court heard as Williams is black it is not yet known if the scar tissue will have the same pigmentation as his skin.
Adrian Williams, defending, said Wainwright, 30, has been serving a life sentence since the age of 18 when he was jailed for life for murder.
He said: “The defendant’s view is that he does not wish to be released. He appears to be living an isolated existence.
“He fears and seeks to avoid contact with other prisoners.”
Following the attack a phone call was recorded during which Wainwright was heard to tell his mother he wanted to remain in isolation.
Mr Williams said: “The defendant himself wants to know why he has behaved in the way that he did and if there is anything that can be done with him.”
He added there was a strong suspicion of underlying mental illness.
Recorder of Preston Judge Anthony Russell QC handed Wainwright an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) with a minimum term of five years before he can be considered for parole.
As Judge Russell handed Wainwright his sentence, the prisoner rocked from foot to foot in the dock.