Swansea prisoner gets life sentence for guard attack

Thomas Faulds must serve at least 10 years and eight months before he can apply for parole

An inmate has been given a life sentence for slashing the face of a prison officer with a homemade weapon.

Thomas Faulds, 26, attacked Kirk Fewings in June 2021 while in HMP Swansea, following an earlier attack on a fellow prisoner in HMP Berwyn.

Faulds, of Old Colwyn, Conwy county, admitted two counts of wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article.

He must serve at least 10 years and eight months.

Faulds was on remand in HMP Berwyn, near Wrexham, awaiting to be sentenced for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, when the initial attack took place.

The court heard he "lashed out viciously" at a fellow inmate with an improvised knife on 29 March 2021.

The judge said that "mercifully" the fellow inmate's injuries, while resulting in a permanent scar, were "not as serious" as intended.

Faulds was moved to HMP Swansea after the attack on a fellow inmate at HMP Berwyn

Faulds was then moved to Swansea where, on 12 June, he attacked Mr Fewings after making an identical improvised weapon, described as being akin to a knife.

He slashed the right side of Mr Fewings' face, leaving him a "significant scar" and "difficulty with movement in his neck".

The night before the attack, Faulds warned Mr Fewings he would soon need "a sewing kit".

In a victim impact statement, Mr Fewings said he had not been able to return to work since the incident after suffering symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder.