Prison officers attacker Kevan Thakrar: Retrial ruled out

Craig Wylde said he almost lost an arm in the attack

A retrial of an inmate who stabbed three prison guards has been ruled out after an inquiry into jury tampering.

Kevan Thakrar admitted stabbing the guards with a broken bottle at Frankland Prison in Durham in 2010 but was cleared of attempted murder.

Guard Craig Wylde, 30, almost lost an arm in the attack by Thakrar, who was jailed for three murders in 2007.

His family said it was "disgusted" by the Crown Prosecution Service decision that jury tampering was not proven.

Thakrar, of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, was jailed for the drug-related murders of three men in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, in 2007.

He admitted attacking Mr Wylde and his colleagues Claire Lewis and Neil Walker with a broken bottle but was cleared of two counts of attempted murder and three of wounding with intent at Newcastle Crown Court in 2011.

He said he was suffering from post-traumatic stress, the hearing heard.

'Almost lost arm'

Mr Wylde's brother Lee, 36, of County Durham, said the family would keep fighting for "justice" for Craig, who has not worked since the attack.

The family is taking legal action against HM Prisons Service for damages after an artery in Mr Wylde's left arm was severed in the assault.

He is due to retire from the job in August.

Lee Wylde said: "We are disgusted by the decision not to have a retrial, but will keep fighting. We are suing the Prison Service because basically my brother almost lost an arm."

Kingsley Hyland, head of CPS North East Complex Casework Unit, said: "The CPS takes allegations of possible jury interference extremely seriously, given that such conduct strikes at the very heart of the criminal justice process.

"Nevertheless, in this case, after careful consideration, we were not satisfied that there was sufficient compelling evidence to suggest that improper approaches may have been made to the jury."