Portland prisoners receive jail terms for vicious assault on fellow inmate

Ashley Quelch, 20, was sentenced to four years in prison with an extended licence period of a further three years at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 17 March after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

His co-defendant, Kalum Goodall, 20, was convicted of the same offence following a trial and was jailed for six years.

The court was told that the victim in the case, who like the defendants was an inmate at HMP/YOI Portland, left his cell at around 9am on Saturday 2 April 2016 and went to the shower block.

His next recollection was waking up in hospital with extreme pain to the side of his face.

The latter part of the assault was witnessed by a prison officer, who saw the victim being kicked, punched and stamped upon to the upper body and head while lying on the ground.

The prison officer alerted colleagues and the defendants were traced and identified.

The victim was rendered unconscious during the assault and suffered significant memory and blood loss as well as a broken nose and injuries to his face, neck and chest.

Inspector Tony Burden, of Dorset Police, said: “This was a particularly violent attack that continued while the victim was lying defenceless on the ground.

“I hope the sentences imposed will send out a strong message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.

“Dorset Police is committed to working with the Prison Service to ensure that offending inside the county’s jails does not go unreported and unpunished.”