HMP Full Sutton inmates get six years for prison death threats

Feroz Khan and Fuad Awale were found guilty of making threats to kill a prison officer at HMP Full Sutton

Two inmates serving life for murder at an East Yorkshire prison have received a further six years each for threatening to kill a prison officer.

Richard Thompson was attacked at Full Sutton prison on 26 May last year amid tension following soldier Lee Rigby's murder four days earlier.

Feroz Khan and Fuad Awale, both 26, were found guilty at the Old Bailey.

Judge Michael Topolski QC said the attack was "premeditated, well-planned and carefully orchestrated".

Khan was additionally convicted of assaulting Mr Thompson, causing grievous bodily harm.

He was sentenced to three years to run concurrently with his life term and the additional six years for threatening to kill Mr Thompson.

The six years added to Awale's sentence were added to his minimum term of 38 years.

A jury had earlier cleared the pair of charges of false imprisonment during the four-and-a-half-hour stand-off, along with co-defendant David Watson, 27.

The jury heard the incident at Full Sutton took place after relations between Muslim inmates and guards "became strained" in the days following Fusilier Rigby's death.

Judge Topolski said: "Given the context, the level of threats uttered and repeated were truly appalling, causing great anguish, not just to prison officer Thompson but also his colleagues who were convinced he was going to die in horrific circumstances."