Violent prisoner carried out unprovoked attack on officer at Leeds jail

Mark Walker punched the officer in the head as he was being led to a new cell at HMP Wealstun.

Leeds Crown Court heard Walker has a history of attacking prison officers.

He has a previous conviction for throwing a cup of boiling water in an officer's face.

Walker's latest attack took place at the Category C prison near Wetherby on August 29 last year.

Stephanie Hancock, prosecuting, said the incident happened shortly after Walker had been assaulted by another inmate.

Walker was told he was to be transferred to a resettlement unit and to gather some of his belongings in a bag.

Walker was then escorted through the jail by two officers.

Miss Hancock said the defendant was aggressive and made threats to fight other prison.

The two officers made attempts to calm him down as he was leaving the prison wing.

Walker dropped his bag on the floor and went to pick it up but then suddenly attacked the female officer without warning.

He struck the officer in the head and she fell back onto a metal gate then onto the floor.

The other prison officer described how Walker struck the victim twice more to the head.

Walker was taken to a segregation unit after the incident and the officer received treatment on the medical wing.

She was off work for 30 days after the attack.

In a statement to the court she described how it was the worst incident of violence she had experienced in 15 years as a prison officer.

She said: "To say that this has affected my life would be a huge understatement."

Walker, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Phillip Morris, mitigating, said Walker has schizophrenia and the incident took place at a time when he had no access to his medication.

Judge Penelope Belcher adjourned the sentencing hearing so more evidence can be obtained.

Walker will be sentenced on April 1