Headline-making inmate jailed for prison attack

Daniel Weatherson attacked a prison officer at HMP Northumberland in July 2023

A convict who made headlines for spending years behind bars on a controversial indeterminate sentence has been jailed again for attacking a prison guard.

Daniel Weatherson, 36, put an HMP Northumberland officer in a headlock with his legs in July 2023 having earlier accused her of corruption and taking too many holidays, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

His case gained media attention because he had spent the vast majority of his adult life in prison having been jailed for robbery in 2007 for a minimum of 18 months, the court heard.

Weatherson, who was recalled to prison on licence a few days after being released in September 2023, admitted assaulting an emergency worker and was jailed for six months.

Weatherson, of no fixed abode but previously from Newcastle, complained to other inmates about the number of holidays the guard at the prison near Acklington, Northumberland, was taking, insinuating she was corrupt and thereby undermining her authority, prosecutor Annelise Haugstad said.

On 22 July 2023, while staff were on reduced numbers over the lunch period and after a delay in prisoners getting their medications, Weatherson deliberately cut his leg open, the court heard.

'Public protection'

The guard was one of those who responded and implied he self-harmed as an inconvenience knowing there were fewer officers on the wing at that time, the court heard.

Later that day he self-harmed again which the guard suggested was to "prove a point" in response to suggestion he only did it "on their time and not on his".

As he returned to his cell, the guard told Weatherson he would lose some privileges because of his behaviour prompting him to complain to two other officers.

When he refused their order to go back to his cell, they tackled him to the ground and during the melee he used his legs to get the female guard in a headlock causing her to sprain her neck, the court heard.

In a statement read to the court, the guard said she had needed six months off work as a result and been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

She also said seeing media reports about Weatherson in which he appeared to be hailed as a "celebrity" and "upstanding character", were upsetting.

His case attracted attention because of the length of time he spent in prison, having initially only been jailed for a minimum 18 months, with his indeterminate sentence made for "public protection", the court heard.

'Cowardly attack'

In mitigation, Cainan Lonsdale said the defendant was still suffering the effects of childhood trauma having been the victim of an attempted kidnapping a the age of four and stabbed when he was 10.

Mr Lonsdale said his self-harm episodes were sincere and not based on a prison schedule, adding he was having a genuine "mental health crisis" which the guards did not take seriously.

He said Weatherson had spent most of his adult life in prison and was only out for a few days in September last year before he was recalled to HMP Frankland in Durham on licence, with his next possible parole hearing in September 2025.

The court heard he had been diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease and feared getting a cancer diagnosis after being found with an enlarged prostate.

He has also been diagnosed with PTSD, various personality disorders, depression and anxiety, Mr Lonsdale said.

Assistant Judge Advocate Thomas Mitchell said the attack was "somewhat cowardly" as Weatherson was a lot bigger than the female guard.

He said the defendant, whose first conviction was for wounding in 1999, had a "tendency towards violence and manipulation".