Whitemoor prisoner Russell Ireland attacked fellow inmate with magnet

Russell Ireland was already serving a life sentence for attacking inmates at other prisons, having been previously jailed for taking a family hostage

A prisoner serving a life sentence has been given an additional five-year jail term for attacking a fellow inmate with a speaker magnet wrapped in a sock.

Russell Ireland, 39, carried out the attack following a confrontation in the canteen at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire in January 2022.

The victim sustained serious head injuries, police said.

Ireland's previous offences included taking hostages in Ipswich and attacking inmates in other jails.

Cambridgeshire Police said that two months after he attacked the inmate at Whitemoor, Ireland started a fire in his cell, before lunging at staff with a long sharp object as they tried to extinguish the blaze and clear the smoke.

Ireland pleaded guilty at Peterborough Crown Court to possessing a knife, arson, assaulting an emergency work and GBH without intent. He was sentenced to 63 months in jail.

He had previously been given two life terms in May 2015 for attacking an inmate at HMP Norwich with a chair leg, and stabbing a prisoner at HMP Bedford with a doctored paint brush.

At that time he was already serving seven years for assaulting a 16-year-old at a hotel in Ipswich and then holding three people hostage at knifepoint in Cullingham Road in the town in October 2013.

Ireland was initially serving his life sentence at a special unit at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes.

HMP Whitemoor is a high security prison for about 450 inmates near March in The Fens

Det Con Emma Purser said: "Ireland's violence and destruction seems to know no bounds.

"His behaviour was frightening for those involved and he caused serious injuries.

"He's proved he should remain behind bars for a long time."

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