A convict faced an additional four-year imprisonment term for assaulting another prisoner by cutting his neck. John Henry Sayers was hospitalized following an attack by Donald Gaote-Oueyeya at HMP Frankland in April last year. Gaote-Oueyeya, 26, who was serving a life sentence for a prior crime committed at 17, reportedly used an improvised blade made from prison cutlery to repeatedly slash at Sayers.
During a hearing at Teesside Crown Court, it was revealed that the assault occurred during “association time” at HMP Frankland when Gaote-Oueyeya unexpectedly attacked Sayers. Sayers suffered a 7cm laceration on his neck, a 5cm wound on his forehead, and a 2cm cut on his right ring finger. He was promptly taken to the hospital for treatment, and the weapon used in the attack was not recovered.
Furthermore, a prison officer sustained injuries while attempting to intervene, including cuts to his right arm and an eye injury. Gaote-Oueyeya expressed remorse for the unintended harm caused to the officer during the incident.
In his victim personal statement from May last year, the officer shared his ongoing concerns about the incident and the safety of prison staff. He emphasized the unexpected nature of the injuries and the realization that safety within the prison environment is not guaranteed.
Christopher Dunn, in mitigation, acknowledged the absence of justification for Gaote-Oueyeya’s actions, citing fear and intimidation as factors that prevented him from seeking help. Despite the incident, Judge Francis Laird noted Gaote-Oueyeya’s previous good behavior and anticipated a return to such conduct after relocation to a different prison.
Appearing via video link from HMP Long Lartin, Gaote-Oueyeya received a four-year sentence for wounding with intent and a nine-month sentence for assault causing bodily harm, to be served concurrently with his existing term.