Delusional Doncaster prisoner armed himself with toothbrush/razor-blade weapons

Christopher Thorley was serving an indeterminate sentence at HMP Lindholme for the public's protection when the first blade was discovered in a tub of food that was passed to him from another inmate, at 5pm on August 4, 2019, said prosecutor James Gould.

Another weapon was seen poking from his pocket as he collected medication from a hatch at 8.40am, eight days later.

Upset because his dosage was being reduced, Thorley told the guard "he would make another one tomorrow,” and when he was interviewed in September he made no comment.

The third weapon, a toothbrush with embedded razor blades identical to the other two, was discovered during a search of his cell on February 7, and Thorley became abusive to the guard that found it.

Mr Gould said the defendant has 51 previous convictions for 98 offences, including possessing a weapon in 1999, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, in 2007, and battery in 2008.

In 2009 he was jailed for five years for wounding and assault, and he was convicted of escape in 2014, and possessing a blade in 2016.

Andrew Smith, mitigating, said Thorley was on anti-psychotic medication at the time, but had been assessed as fit to plead.

"He was under the effects of an illness," Mr Smith said on Thursday. "He was fearful for his own safety.

"Had it not been for Covid-19 he understood he was going to be considered for release.”

Thorley, 35, currently of HMP Lindholme, pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing unauthorised weapons in prison.

Judge Graham Reeds QC told Thorley his "significant mental illness" substantially reduced his culpability.

"The mitigation balances out the aggravating factors of your previous convictions," he said.

"You made and armed yourself with these weapons which are used to inflict horrific injuries."

He sentenced Thorley to 16 months in prison, and told him that after eight months he will be eligible to apply for parole at the end of his current sentence.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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